EARTH SCIENCE REVIEW

MAP SKILLS

Mercator Projection Straight lines of latitude and longitude; distorted

Latitude East – West, Parallels the equator, 360˚, each degree
is divided into 60 minutes, 1 minute = 1.85km, 1.15
statute miles, 1.0 nautical miles
Longitude North – South, Prime Meridian is 0˚, not straight or
equally spaced, lines meet at poles
Great Circles Lines that divide Earth exactly in half
Equator is the only ______ great circle Line of Latitude that is a
Prime Meridian and all other lines and longitude Great Circles
and their partners (on opposite side of globe) are
Scale The ratio of distance on the map to distance on
Earth
Contours Show how steep land is
Contour Line Connect points of the same elevation above sea
level
Contour Interval Height between contour lines
Every 5th line on a TOPO.MAP. is bolded this is Index Contour
known as an ______ _______
Bench Mark Point where exact elevation is known and is so
noted by a brass or silver plate permanently set into
the ground
Survey Points Points of exact elevation
USGS (United States Geological Survey) do what? Produce topographic maps of the US
Quadrangles Group of four regions divided by parallels and
meridians
Magnetic Declination Angle between true north and magnetic north
Closed circles Top of hill
CONTOUR LINES BEND _____ WITH RIVERS UP-STREAM
GRADIENT How much a hill drops over a certain distance
HOW IS GRADIENT FOUND? (FRACTION) CHANGE IN ELEVATION OVER
LINEAR DISTANCE = GRADIENT