Studying Geography
World History I
Displaying the Earth’s Surface
• Geographers use globes and maps to show the Earth’s surface.
• Globes are the most accurate method, but are difficult to carry or
draw.
• Maps can show small areas, different types of information, and are
easy to transport.
• They can’t show true size, shape, distance, and direction at the same time.
Hemispheres
• Geographers divide the
Earth into hemispheres to
make it easier to find
places.
• The Equator divided Earth
into northern and
southern hemispheres.
• The Earth is divided into
eastern and western
hemispheres by the Prime
Meridian.
Finding Places on Earth
• Latitude and longitude lines
cross the Earth, creating a grid
system.
• Lines of latitude circle the Earth
parallel to the Equator.
• They measure distance north or
south of the Equator in degrees.
• Lines of longitude circle the
Earth from pole to pole and
measure the distance east or
west of the Prime Meridian.
Map Projections
• When curves on a globe become straight lines on a map, the
size, shape, area, and distance can change.
• Using mathematics, mapmakers created different types of map
projections.
Goode’s Interrupted Equal-Area Projection (above)
shows a realistic representation of continents’ sizes and
shapes, while the Mercator Projection (right) the land
size and distance appear distorted.
Map Projections
The Robinson Projection (above) shows a truer
picture of land size and shape, but the North and
South Poles are distorted. The Winkel Tripel
Projection (right) most closely resembles the
globe model.
Six Essential Elements of Geography
•Recently, geographers began dividing the study of
geography into six elements.
1.The world in spatial terms.
2.Places and regions.
3.Physical systems.
4.Human systems.
5.Environment and society.
6.The uses of geography.
Types of Maps
• Physical Maps – show land and water features.
• Political Maps – show names and borders of countries.
Types of Maps
• Special purpose maps – show specific kinds of information,
like climate or natural resources.
• A choropleth uses colors to show population density.