Grids and Time Zones

   Today in class we learned about geography and features of a map. Geography is the study of where things are found on Earth's surface and the reasons for the locations. Two key questions in geography are (1.) Where are people and activities found on Earth? and (2.) Why are they found there? We also talked about cartography, which is the art and science of mapmaking. A map is a two-dimensional or flat-scaled model of the Earth. Maps serve 2 purposes: (1.) As a reference tool to identify an object's absolute and relative location, and (2.) As a communications tool to convey the distribution of human activities or physical features. Also, there is a difference between absolute location and relative location. Absolute location is position expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds of latitude (north and south of the equator) and longitude (east or west of the Prime Meridian). Relative location is the regional position or situation of a place relative to the position of other places. 

   We then talked about latitude and longitude. Latitude is a geographic cooridnate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the Earth's surface. Latitude is measured by imaginary lines running parallel to the equator, and used to measure distance in degrees north or south of the equator. Important lines of latitude include the Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, and Antarctic Circle. Next, we talked about longitude. Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is measured by imaginary lines circling the Earth and running through the poles, and used to measure distances in degrees east or west from the Prime Meridian. The Prime Meridian passes through Greenwich, England, and is given the position of 0 degrees longitude.