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