Earth Science Chapter 3
Terms
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Mercator Projection
Definition, pros and cons -
Depicts Earth as if a large cylinder of paper had been wrapped around the planet.
Pro: shows whole earth on one continuous map.
Con: distorts the size of the polar areas. -
Gnomonic Projection
Definition, pros and cons -
Made as if sheet of paper had been laid on a point of the Earth's surface (the North Pole, for example).
Pro: acuratgely shows the shortest distance between two points. Good for planning air or sea trips.
Con: distorts shapes away from the center point. -
Polyconic Projection
Definition, pros and cons -
Made as if a cone of paper had been wrapped around the Earth. Lines of longitude and latitude are curved slightly.
Pro: most land faorms have their true shape and size in relation to each other. Good for mapping areas of land t hat fall in the middle latitudes of Earth (United States).
Con: like all the others, the areas of the Earth farthest from the point where the paper touches the globe are distorted. - map
- A flat, two-dimensional respresentation of the Earth's surface.
- cartographer
- mapmaker
- projection
- a specific way of drawing a map; depicts various parts of the earth more accurately than others.
- hemisphere
- halves of the earth; north-south or east-west
- equator
- a latitude line
- prime meridian
- a longitude line;
- latitude
- circles the globe from east to west hemisphers (at the widest point of the Earth); latitude of Equator is 0 degrees. North Pole is 90 degrees North and South Pole is 90 degrees South.
- longitude
- a half circle that runs from north to south between the poles. Numbered from 0 degrees to 180 degreees east or west. Further divided by minutes (60' between two lines)
- map scale
- tells you how the map's features compare in size with Earth's surface. Can be a ratio, words, or line graph.
- radar
- A radio signal that bounces off objects it hits and is reflected back. Computers turn the data into images of the earth.
- false-color image
- A satellite image that uses bright colors like red, purple and yellow to make images of the earth. The bright colors are easier to read that the natural colors.
- GPS
- Global Positioning System. Uses computers and satellites for people to determine their position, speed and time any place, any time, any weather.
- GIS
- Computer system that can assemble, store, manipulate and display data identified by location.
- topographic map
- shows the topography of an area
- topography
- natural and human made surface features
- contour lines
- narrow brown lines that indicate elevation or sea level.
- contour interval
- the difference between two consecutive contour lines.
- slope
- steepness of the landscape
- magnetic declination
- the angle by which a compass needle will vary from true north.