Blog post #5
Today we had to complete three learning objectives in order to answer the key question (How do geographers describe where things are?) One of these learning objectives was to define map scale, projection, meridian, longitude, parallel, latitude, and prime meridian. A map scale is the relationship of a feature's size on a map to its actual size on earth. Scales help geographers describe where things are across large areas of land easily. Projection is the scientific method of transferring locations on Earth's surface onto a flat map. This allows for geographers to provide an easy to use tool for people to locate places. The meridian is a circle of constant longitude passing through a given place on Earth's surface and the terrestrial pole. The prime meridian is the zero line of longitude/the main meridian on Earth. Meridians can be used to show if a country is elongated on a map to make it more accurate. Longitude lines are lines that go from north to south and latitude lines are lines that go from east to west. These lines allow for people to pinpoint the absolute location easily. Finally, parallel lines are lines that continue forever without touching. Latitude lines are parallel to other latitude lines and longitude lines are parallel to other longitude lines. This helps make maps easier to read because the lines aren't intersecting in every which way.
The second learning objective was to understand the role of map scale and projection in interpreting maps. Map scale and projection are both very important in interpreting maps because they can convey information on a map to make them more accurate. For example, when a map is projected, countries can appear larger than what they really are, but when they are projected, latitude and longitude lines can be elongated or smaller to show if a country curves or if it is supposed to be wider or thinner than it is pictured. These lines make the countries more accurately presented so readers don't think they are extremely wide when they aren't, etc. Also, map scales can convey distances over large areas in a small area (a map) so nothing has to be cut out of an important piece of information.
The third learning objective is to identify the three main types of map projections which are, the mercator map projection go to map of the world since the 16th century, the Robinson map projection is the go to map projection of the world right now and it is spherical on the edges but flat at the top and bottom, and the third map is mollweide which is a map that is almost spherical and gives a globe like appearance.
The second learning objective was to understand the role of map scale and projection in interpreting maps. Map scale and projection are both very important in interpreting maps because they can convey information on a map to make them more accurate. For example, when a map is projected, countries can appear larger than what they really are, but when they are projected, latitude and longitude lines can be elongated or smaller to show if a country curves or if it is supposed to be wider or thinner than it is pictured. These lines make the countries more accurately presented so readers don't think they are extremely wide when they aren't, etc. Also, map scales can convey distances over large areas in a small area (a map) so nothing has to be cut out of an important piece of information.
The third learning objective is to identify the three main types of map projections which are, the mercator map projection go to map of the world since the 16th century, the Robinson map projection is the go to map projection of the world right now and it is spherical on the edges but flat at the top and bottom, and the third map is mollweide which is a map that is almost spherical and gives a globe like appearance.
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