Chapter 2 Lesson 1
Studying Geography
Displaying the Earth’s Surface
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A globe is the most accurate way to show the Earth
It best shows sizes of continents and shapes of landmasses and bodies of water
Shows true distance and direction
Globes have limitations
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Not as easy to carry as a map
Map shows the entire Earth’s surface
Maps have greater detail
Maps cannot show true size, shape, distance, and direction at the same time
Globes and maps both have lines that divide the Earth into hemispheres
Hemispheres = “half sphere”
Equator – divides the Earth north and south
Prime Meridian – divides the Earth East and West
Finding Places on the Earth
Latitude and longitude lines cross one another creating a grid system
Lines of latitude circle the Earth parallel to the Equator and measure distance north or south of the
Equator in degrees
The Equator is 0 degrees latitude
The North Pole is 90 degrees latitude
Lines of longitude circle the Earth from Pole to Pole
The measure distance east of west of the Prime Meridian, which is 0 degrees longitude
The grid system formed by lines of latitude and longitude makes it possible to find the absolute location
of a place
From Globes to Maps
Map makers in order to cause less distortion have created different types of map projections to show
the Earth on a flat sheet of paper
Each projection shows the Earth’s surface in a slightly different way
Flattening Out the Planet
Mapmakers can show either the correct shapes of places or their correct sizes
It is impossible to show both
Map Projections
A Goode’s Interrupted Equal-Area Projection shows continents close to their true sizes and shapes
A Mercator projection shows true direction and land shapes however size and distance appear quite
distorted
A map using the Robinson projection is less distorted however, the North and South Poles are distorted
The Winkel Tripel projection gives a good overall view of the continents’ shapes and sizes
Five Themes and Six Essential Elements of Geography
The five themes of geography are
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Location
Place
Human-environment interaction
Movement
Region
Six Essential Elements
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The World in Spatial Terms - location
Places and Regions
Physical Systems – how do physical systems shape the Earth’s surface?
Human Systems – how do human systems shape our world?
Environment and Society – how does the relationship between people and their natural
surrounds influence the way we live (human-environment interaction)
6. The Uses of Geography – geography helps us understand the relationship among
people, places, and environment
Types of Maps
Physical maps show land and water features and elevation
Political maps show the names and borders of countries and the location of cities and other humanmade features of a place – often they identify the physical features of a land area
Special-Purpose Maps
Special-purpose maps show specific kinds of information
Reading Maps
Study the map key
The map scale is a measuring line that tells you the distances represented on the map
A map has a symbol called a compass rose that tells you the position of the cardinal directions
(north, south, east, and west)
Using Charts, Graphs, and Diagrams
Charts, graphs, and diagrams are tools for showing information
Population and Culture
A choropleth uses population
The movement of people from one place to another is called migration
Culture and Change
Culture is the set of beliefs, behaviors, and traits shared by the members of a group (language,
religion, government, and customs)
Cultural diffusion is when people meet through exploration, migration, and trade and the share
cultures