Mrs. Giorgianni/Physical Setting Earth Science
U N I T I I V : : M
A P P I N G
Main Concepts/Ideas:

Topo maps represent landforms through the use of contour lines.

Contour maps depict changes in elevation.
 A map profile is a side view of Earth’s surface created from a contour or topo map.
 Earth’s coordinate system of latitude and longitude is based on Earth’s rotation and our position relative to the sun and stars.

Latitude is measured north and south of the Equator and affects climate.

Longitude is measured east and west of the Prime Meridian and determines time zones.
 Earth rotates on its axis at a rate of 15°/hour ~ giving us 24 time zones. [360°/15° = 24]

The angle to Polaris is equal to latitude in the northern hemisphere.
Key Questions:

Explain the significance of the equator and prime meridian.

How do you draw a profile?

At what rate does Earth rotate?
 What is Earth’s coordinate system based on?

Why does latitude affect climate and longitude affect time zones?

Explain the connection between a Foucault pendulum and the Coriolis effect
Vocabulary:
Contour Interval
Contour Lines
Coordinate System
Equator
Field Value
Hachured Contour Line
Latitude
Longitude
Prime Meridian
Polaris
Lab Activities:

Determining Your Latitude

Topo Maps ~ 3D
Profile
Revolution
Rotation
Slope/Gradient

Topographic Profiles

Creating a Contour Map
Topographic Map
Topography
Homework Assignments:

Castle Learning: o Week #15 ~ Due Monday, December 16 o Week #16 ~ Due FRIDAY, December 20 * No homework over Christmas break . . . o Week #17 ~
EXTRA
C
REDIT
Review – Due Monday, January 6 o Week #18 ~ EXTRA C REDIT Review – Due Monday, January 6 o Week #19 ~ Due Monday, January 13

Vocabulary: o Contour Interval – Polaris ~ Due Monday, December 16 o Profile – Topography ~ Due FRIDAY, December 20
Quizzes/Unit Test:
 Vocab quiz will be given at the end of the unit, prior to Unit Test


Topic Quizzes may be given after each sub-unit:
Mapping Unit Test
(Latitude/Longitude, Topo Maps, Contour Maps/Profiles) o 20 Multiple choice questions – BRING A PENCIL o
5 Short answer questions
No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.
~
Voltaire
Giorgianni ~ Mapping Unit 2013/14

U N I T I I V : : M
A P P I N G
Main Concept Review
1.
A 15
◦
difference in longitude equals 1 hour. [Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours,
360/24= 15!)
2.
West of the Prime Meridian is earlier in the day, East of the Prime Meridian is later in the day by 1 hour for every 15
◦
.
3.
Latitude is North and South [like a ladder]; Longitude is East and West; NYS ranges from approximately 41
◦
- 45
◦
N and 72
◦
- 79
◦
30” West.
4.
Contour lines connect points of equal value.
5.
A contour interval is the distance between contour lines.
6.
When contour lines are close together, the landscape is steeper.
7.
A point inside the highest contour line equals one less than the next contour line.
8.
A topographic profile is a side view that shows the elevation and land along a certain landcape – you need to be able to DRAW a profile!
9.
You can recognize landscape features by the contour lines, such as stream v’s always pointing UP-stream and hills being concentric circles.
10.
Angle to Polaris ALWAYS equals latitude! Therefore, at the North Pole, Polaris is directly over head at 90
◦
, in Albany Polaris is at 42
◦
, at the equator it is at 0
◦
. As we move south from the pole toward the equator, the altitude of Polaris decreases.
11.
ESRT has the formula for gradient: Change in field value (what is being measured) divided by the distance between the points. – don’t forget to always use the right units!
12.
The latitude and longitude for various cities in NYS is in the ESRT on page 3.
Rules for drawing profiles:

Draw/find a straight line through a landform with a point at both ends.

Put a blank piece of paper along that line from point to point and mark off the starting and ending points and every point that a contour line crosses.

Using your now plotted paper, place it on the x-axis of a graph where the y-axis is scaled using the contour interval given to you on the map.
 More rules . . .

Mark the elevations directly above each mark you made in step #2 using a point.

Connect the points with a fluid line to show a side view of the landform.

Voila! You have a map profile!
Giorgianni ~ Mapping Unit 2013/14