Mrs. Giorgianni/Physical Setting Earth Science
UNIT II: MAPPING
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:
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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
Profile
Revolution
Rotation
Slope/Gradient
Topographic Map
Topography
Lab Activities:
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Latitude/Longitude
Topo Maps
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Topographic Profiles
Contour Maps
Homework Assignments:
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Castle Learning:
o Week #4 ~ Due Monday, September 29, 2014
o Week #5 ~ Due Monday, October 6, 2014
o Week #6 ~ Due Monday, October 13, 2014 (NOTE: There is no school on Monday, October 13!)
o Week #7 ~ Due Monday, October 20, 2014
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Vocabulary:
o Contour Interval – Polaris ~ Due Monday, October 6, 2014
o Profile – Topography ~ Due Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Quizzes/Unit Test:
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Vocab quiz will be given at the end of the unit, prior to Unit Test
Topic Quizzes may be given after each sub-unit: (Latitude/Longitude, Topo Maps, Contour Maps/Profiles)
Mapping Unit Test
o 25 Multiple choice questions – BRING A PENCIL
o 5 Short answer questions
No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.
~ Voltaire
Giorgianni ~ Mapping Unit 2014/15
UNIT IV: MAPPING
Main Concept Review
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A 15◦ difference in longitude equals 1 hour. [Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours,
360/24= 15!)
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◦.
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.
Contour lines connect points of equal value.
A contour interval is the distance between contour lines.
When contour lines are close together, the landscape is steeper.
A point inside the highest contour line equals one less than the next contour line.
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!
You can recognize landscape features by the contour lines, such as stream v’s always
pointing UP-stream and hills being concentric circles.
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.
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!
The latitude and longitude for various cities in NYS is in the ESRT on page 3.
Rules for drawing profiles:
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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 2014/15