Name:___________________________________
Block:___________
Mapping Study Guide-Academic
Latitude and Longitude
1. Latitude lines measure north and south but run east to west around the globe. The 0 latitude line is
called the equator.
2. Longitude lines measure east and west but run north to south and intersect at the poles. The 0 longitude
line is called the prime meridian.
3. Where in the world does the prime meridian cross? England, NOT the Pacific Ocean
4. Latitude and longitude lines are further divided into 60 minutes and those are then divided into 60
seconds.
5. What is the latitude and longitude of the following: (use map on page 708 – 709 in your textbook)
a. Helena, Montana 46N, 113W
b. Raleigh, North Carolina 36N, 79W
c. Augusta, Maine 45N, 69W
d. Tallahassee, Florida 31N, 85W
Map Scales and Magnetic Declination
6. What type of scale is “1:24,000”? Representative Fraction or Ratio
7. What type of scale is “1cm=10km”? Verbal
8. What type of scale is “0____________10km”? Graphic or bar
You see the following symbol on a map:
MN
13W
True North
9. Which direction is north? (up, down, left or right) Right
10. Will the compass arrow point to True North or Magnetic North?
Magnetic north
11. Why does the magnetic declination change depending on your area?
Depending on your location relative to true north and magnetic north, magnetic north may be west or
east of true north and varies in degrees. See diagram in notes
Time Zones
12. What is meant by “east increase, west less” in this diagram?
Time is ahead going east and behind going west.
13. Why is Earth divided into time zones? The Earth rotates. Time zones prevent nearby communities
from having different solar times, such as solar noon.
14. If it is 9pm at location D, what time is it at location C? 5pm
15. Where is the IDL on this map? Longitude line 180° in the pacific ocea
Topographic Maps
16. What do contour lines show?
Elevation above sea level
Use the map to answer question 17-20
Z
X
550
Y
17.
What is the contour interval of this map? 50m
18.
What is the elevation of point Y? 550m
19.
What is the elevation of point X? 650m
20.
What is the relief between points Y and X? 100m
21.
How can you determine on a topographic map, if a hill is either steep or gentle?
Closer contour lines indicate a steeper slope.
22.
Where on Earth would you find an elevation of 0? Sea level, the beach
23.
Create a topographic profile across line AB.
A
600
700
1000
900
500
400
800
B
24. Draw contour lines across the river showing the direction of flow.
Mapping Technology
25. What is GPS? Explain how it works and its uses.
Global positioning system is a network of 24 satellites that orbit the globe. The person on the ground has
a receiver and by triangulating (using 3 of those 24 satellites) their location, speed, and time can be
determined.
26. Why is it necessary to create false color images?
Landsat satellites detect light reflected off of Earth’s surface in a wavelength not in the visible
spectrum. Computers analyze these wavelengths and produce an image that is not true-to-life color.