GEOG 1HB3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Cartogram, International Date Line, Contour Line

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Geography
• Course: GEOG 1HB3
• Professor: Michael Mercier

Document Summary

Maps are 2-dimensional graphical representations of the world, and depict spatial relationships. Maps are an analysis of spatial information. They are socially constructed": people control what they want to put on the map. E. g. population, geographical patterns, statistics: read maps with a critical eye. How do you portray a 3-d sphere in 2-d. Projection: mathematical technique for representing a 3-dimensional sphere on a 2- dimensional map: imagine a light bulb, paper on the surface of the earth. Three main kinds of projections exist - each with their own advantages and limitations: many speci c variations. Main forms of distortion are: distance, direction. Azimuthal projections: the earth"s surface is projected onto a at surface that touches the globe at one point only (usually the polar regions) Latitude and longitude: a system of imaginary arcs which are used to identify an absolute location for all areas of the earth.