The Geographer’s ToolsThe Geographer’s Tools

Maps, Maps, & More Maps Maps, Maps, & More Maps

YAY!YAY!

MAPS AREMAPS ARE ……picture/representations of Earth's surface, picture/representations of Earth's surface,

showing how things are related to each other byshowing how things are related to each other by• distancedistance• directiondirection• sizesize

……a way of representing a portion of the earth's a way of representing a portion of the earth's surface on a flat piece of paper that can be surface on a flat piece of paper that can be carried and transported easily. carried and transported easily.

……created by cartographers.created by cartographers.

MAPS AREMAPS ARE ……used by people to find places they used by people to find places they

have not seen. have not seen. • Let’s say you are asked to find the nearest Let’s say you are asked to find the nearest

high school from your house. You could walk high school from your house. You could walk aimlessly from your house and hope you find aimlessly from your house and hope you find a school.a school.

• Or, you could use a map to help locate the Or, you could use a map to help locate the nearest high school. nearest high school.

The The scalescale on the map can help you determine the on the map can help you determine the distancedistance

TheThe compass rosecompass rose will tell you thewill tell you the direction in direction in which you should walk. which you should walk.

TYPES OF MAPSTYPES OF MAPS

There are two primary types of maps:There are two primary types of maps:• General/ReferenceGeneral/Reference• ThematicThematic

General/reference maps General/reference maps • show variety of data about an area or reflects show variety of data about an area or reflects

what can be seen by a satellite image what can be seen by a satellite image Ex: political, physical, & highway maps.Ex: political, physical, & highway maps.

Thematic maps focus upon specific Thematic maps focus upon specific information related to a specific topicinformation related to a specific topic• Cannot been seen from a satelliteCannot been seen from a satellite• Ex: historical map of the spread of religion, or a map Ex: historical map of the spread of religion, or a map

indicating areas suffering from malaria. indicating areas suffering from malaria.

Reference Maps-Political MapsReference Maps-Political Maps

Political maps show boundaries that Political maps show boundaries that divide one political entity from anotherdivide one political entity from another, , such as such as • TownshipsTownships• CountiesCounties• CitiesCities• states. states.

May emphasize boundaries through use of different May emphasize boundaries through use of different colorscolors

• world maps show each country in a different color. world maps show each country in a different color.

A political map can be made of any area A political map can be made of any area • Ex: city, county, state, national, world Ex: city, county, state, national, world

Reference Reference Maps-Physical/Topographic/Elevation Maps-Physical/Topographic/Elevation

MapsMaps Physical maps show 3 dimensional world in Physical maps show 3 dimensional world in

2 dimensions using:2 dimensions using: • contour lines: elevationcontour lines: elevation is represented with is represented with

concentricconcentric circles and lines. circles and lines. • colors and shading defined by acolors and shading defined by a key/legend. key/legend.• Satellite images Satellite images

Physical maps indicate the physical Physical maps indicate the physical features of the earthfeatures of the earth• Ex: plateaus, rivers, basins, valleys, etc. Ex: plateaus, rivers, basins, valleys, etc.

THEMATIC MAPS…THEMATIC MAPS…

display the distribution of a phenomenon display the distribution of a phenomenon related to a singlerelated to a single• TopicTopic• ThemeTheme• SubjectSubject. .

display a single characterisitic/ display a single characterisitic/ phenonmenon (a phenonmenon (a ""uniunivariatevariate map") map")• Ex: soil type, vegetation, geology, land use, or Ex: soil type, vegetation, geology, land use, or

landownership. landownership. They are highly specialized.They are highly specialized.

Thematic Maps-Biogeographic Thematic Maps-Biogeographic MapsMaps

Biogeographic maps illustrate where Biogeographic maps illustrate where living organisms live or migrateliving organisms live or migrate..• animalsanimals• PlantsPlants• otherother

Example: distribution of an endangered Example: distribution of an endangered speciesspecies

Thematic Maps-Environmental Thematic Maps-Environmental MapsMaps

look at human activity in urban, metropolitan look at human activity in urban, metropolitan & rural areas& rural areas• HEIHEI

Look at the environment in which we all live.Look at the environment in which we all live. • Physiographic Physiographic mapsmaps

illustrate the distribution of a particular feature such as illustrate the distribution of a particular feature such as forests, grassland or woodlands... forests, grassland or woodlands...

• MeteorologicalMeteorological maps maps show climate, weather and wind are also types of show climate, weather and wind are also types of

environmental maps. environmental maps. Meteorologists, oceanographers, geographers, city Meteorologists, oceanographers, geographers, city

planners, and many other professionals depend planners, and many other professionals depend greatly on these maps to record and forecast their greatly on these maps to record and forecast their specific field. specific field.

Thematic Maps-Geologic MapsThematic Maps-Geologic Maps

a map of the different types of rocks a map of the different types of rocks that are on the surface of the Earth.that are on the surface of the Earth.

For what purpose might a geologic For what purpose might a geologic map be used?map be used?• Can help determine relationships Can help determine relationships

between different rock formations to between different rock formations to find mineral resources & oil.   find mineral resources & oil.   

GIS MAPSGIS MAPS

maps that are connected to a maps that are connected to a database.database. • You may enter search criteria, and the You may enter search criteria, and the

database will superimpose the database will superimpose the information onto a map.information onto a map.

Google Earth is a good example of GIS Google Earth is a good example of GIS mapping.mapping.

HOW ARE MAPS CREATED?HOW ARE MAPS CREATED?

Maps are flat representations of a Maps are flat representations of a round world.round world.

Maps are created by picking a point Maps are created by picking a point of reference and projecting an image of reference and projecting an image from that point of reference.from that point of reference.• Because maps flatten a round image, Because maps flatten a round image,

they are distorted they are distorted size, shape, distance, direction, etc.size, shape, distance, direction, etc.

• cartographers chose which projection to cartographers chose which projection to use for a particular map based on their use for a particular map based on their goal and audience.goal and audience.

Map Projection TypesMap Projection Types

conformal projectionconformal projection• primarily preserves shape primarily preserves shape

equidistant projectionequidistant projection • primarily preserves distanceprimarily preserves distance

equal-area projectionequal-area projection • primarily preserves area. primarily preserves area.

MAP PROJECTIONSMAP PROJECTIONS

Planar/AzimuthalPlanar/Azimuthal• Earth is centered in Earth is centered in

such a way that a such a way that a straight line coming straight line coming from the center to any from the center to any other point represents other point represents the shortest distancethe shortest distance

• most accurate at the most accurate at the center center

often is used for the often is used for the polespoles

MAP PROJECTIONSMAP PROJECTIONS

CylindricalCylindrical• Based on the projection of the globe onto a Based on the projection of the globe onto a

cylindercylinder• Most accurate near the equator but shapes and Most accurate near the equator but shapes and

distance become distorted near the polesdistance become distorted near the poles

MAP PROJECTIONSMAP PROJECTIONS

ConicConic• Comes from placing a cone over part of a globeComes from placing a cone over part of a globe

Best for showing limited east-west areas in terms of Best for showing limited east-west areas in terms of distance and direction distance and direction

• Most accurate where the cone touches the globe.Most accurate where the cone touches the globe.

COMMON MAPSCOMMON MAPS

Winkel tripel projectionWinkel tripel projection• Balances size and shape fairly wellBalances size and shape fairly well

COMMON MAPSCOMMON MAPS

RobinsonRobinson• Most accurate in terms of size and shape Most accurate in terms of size and shape

except near the extreme polesexcept near the extreme poles

COMMON TYPECOMMON TYPE

InterruptedInterrupted• True size and shape but distances are very distortedTrue size and shape but distances are very distorted

COMMON MAPSCOMMON MAPS

MercatorMercator• Greatly distorts size and distance but shows Greatly distorts size and distance but shows

true direction and shapetrue direction and shape