Latitude and Longitude

Lines of Latitude & Longitude, Map Projections, Types of Maps

parallels of latitude

lines that run East-West; parallel lines measured North or South, starting at 0° (Equator), and ending at 90° (the N and S Pole)

Meridians of Longitude

lines that run North-South; non-parallel measured East or West, starting at 0° (Prime Meridian) and ending at 180° (Intl. Date Line)

Major Lines of Latitude

• Equator (0°)

• Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N)

• Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S)

• Arctic Circle (66.5°N)

• Antarctic Circle (66.5°S)

• North Pole (90°N)

  • South Pole (90°S)

Major Lines of Longitude

• Prime Meridian (0°)

• International Date Line (180°)

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

refers to the local time in London, England

scale

the ratio of distance on the map to the actual distance on the ground

thematic maps

show the distribution of a phenomena or show the relationships between places

spatial distribution

the idea or question of what is the arrangement on the landscape of the feature being studied and why is that distribution the way it is and what cases it

density

the frequency in which a feature/phenomenon occurs within a given area

concentration

the arrangement or spread of that feature over a unit of area

pattern

refers to the geometric arrangement of that feature across the landscape

mental map

the cognitive image of a particular area, place or route; involves the idea of environmental perception and memories of a place or route