AP Human Geo - Types of Maps & Map Projections

Reference Maps

General info about places

• political

• physical

Thematic

Spatial aspects of info or phemenom

• Choropleth Map

• dot map

• graduated symbol map

• isoline map

• cartogram

choropleth

shaded map based on specific info

dot map

tiny dotted map

graduated symbol map

bigger the symbol (shape), the bigger the value

isoline map

temperature/elevation (lined)

cartogram

distortion based on specific info

map projection

showing a curved surface (the earth) on a flat surface (a map)

Forms of Distortion

SADD

Shape

Area

Distance

Direction

Mercator projection

Use for navigation/compass

Look for a really big Greenland

Gall-Peters projection

stretched and distorted shape

Winkel-Tripel projection

accurate shape & size

Conic projection

midlatitude counts ( upside down pacman)

Goode-Homolosine projection

Interrupts the oceans (pacmans ghost)

Azimuthal projection

Circular + equidistant

Robinson projection

look at antarctica large (rectangular circle)