Geography Skills
Advantages and disadvantages to different types of maps
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Globes and Maps
S Globe:
S A globe is a round model of the Earth
that shows its shape, lands, and
directions as they truly relate to one
another.
Globes
Advantages?
S
Represent true land shape.
Disadvantages?
S
Cannot show detailed
information
S
Difficult to carry
What is a map?
S
S
Map: A flat drawing of all or
part of the Earth’s surface.
Advantages
S
Cartographers, or mapmakers,
use mathematical formulas to
transfer information from the
round globe to a flat map.
S
Show small area with great detail
S
Display different types of
information, such as population
densities or natural resources
S
Transport easily
Maps
S
Disadvantages
S
Distort, or change, the accuracy
of shapes and distances.
Types of Maps
S
S
S
S
Goode’s Interrupted EqualArea Projection
Robinson Projection
S
Helpful to compare land area among continents.
S
Minor distortions. Mostly accurate. Poles look
flattened.
S
Land shapes good! Size or distance bad. Good
for sea travel.
S
Good overall view of the continents’ shapes and
sizes. Land areas are not as distorted near the
poles as they are in the Robinson projections
Mercator Projection
Winkel Tripel Projections
Latitude vs. Longitude
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Latitude: Imaginary lines that
run east to west around the globe
S
Longitude: Imaginary lines that
run north and south
S
Known as parallels divide the
glove into units called degrees
S
Also known as meridians
S
Prime Meridian is 0*
S
E and W
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180* is the international date line
S
S
Equator is in the middle
N and S
Absolute Location is a combination of the two.
Hemispheres