Name Class Date

CHAPTER 2 Maps as Models of the Earth

SECTION

2 Mapping the Earth’s Surface

BEFORE YOU READ
After you read this section, you should be able to answer
these questions:
• What is a map projection?
• What are four types of map projections?
• What information should every map have?
• What are four tools used by modern mapmakers?

What Happens When a Globe Becomes a Map?

Because a globe is a sphere, a globe is the most accurate STUDY TIP
model of Earth. However, a globe is too small to show many Compare As you read, make a
details of the Earth’s surface, such as roads and rivers. In chart comparing the features of
cylindrical, conic, and azimuthal
order to show these details, we use maps. map projections. Describe
A map is a flat model of Earth’s curved surface. Maps the way that each projection
can show many details that globes cannot. However, is made and what features it
distorts.
moving information from a curved to a flat surface causes
errors in shapes, sizes, and distances. These errors are
called distortions.
Below is a picture of an orange. It has a black imprint
of Earth’s land masses on it. If you peel the orange in one
piece, you can try to make a flat map from the curved
surface. Notice how the distances and shapes are distorted
in the peeled orange.

TAKE A LOOK
1. Explain Why do all maps
The continents have have distortions?
been drawn on the peel
of this orange. This is what the peel of the orange looks like when
it is flattened out. Notice how shapes and distances
between points on the orange are distorted when
the peel is flattened.

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

Interactive Textbook 25 Maps as Models of the Earth
Name Class Date

SECTION 2 Mapping the Earth’s Surface continued

What Are Map Projections?

A map projection is a certain way of transferring the
curved surface of the Earth to a flat map. Mapmakers use
map projections to move the image of the Earth’s curved
READING CHECK surface onto a flat map.
2. Define What is a map To understand how map projections are made, think
projection? of a clear globe with a light inside it. If you wrap a piece
of paper around the globe, the continents will make
shadows on the paper. If you wrap the paper in different
ways, the shadows will look different. Each way of wrap-
ping the paper produces a different map projection.
There are four main kinds of map projections that
mapmakers use—cylindrical, conic, azimuthal, and equal-
area projections.

CYLINDRICAL PROJECTION
A cylinder is a shape like a an empty paper-towel tube.
If you wrap the paper in a cylinder around the globe, the
resulting map projection is called a cylindrical projection.
The most common map projection is a cylindrical projection
called a Mercator projection. In a Mercator projection,
latitude and longitude lines are straight.
The Mercator projection has two main distortions.
First, the space between longitude lines is equal every-
where, instead of being wider at the equator. Second,
latitude lines are farther apart in the far north and south,
READING CHECK instead of being evenly spaced everywhere.
3. Identify What are two
The distortions in a cylindrical projection make areas
distortions on a Mercator near the poles look wider and longer than they really are.
projection? For example, the Mercator projection makes Greenland
look larger than South America!

A cylindrical projection causes areas near the poles to look larger

than they actually are.

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

Interactive Textbook 26 Maps as Models of the Earth
Name Class Date

SECTION 2 Mapping the Earth’s Surface continued

CONIC PROJECTION
A cone is shaped like a party hat. If you wrap the paper
in a cone around one of the Earth’s hemispheres, the
resulting map projection is called a conic projection.
The cone touches the globe at each line of longitude.
Therefore, a conic projection shows each longitude line
accurately. However, the cone only touches the globe at
one line of latitude. Areas on this line of latitude are not
distorted. However, areas far from this latitude look dis-
torted in a conic projection. READING CHECK
The distortions in a conic projection are worst from 4. Explain Why do conic
north to south. Therefore, conic projections are best for projections show longitude
mapping land masses with more area east and west. They accurately?
are good for mapping continents that are wide, such as
the United States.

TAKE A LOOK
5. Identify Which parts of
a conic projection are most
distorted?

A conic projection causes more distortion from north to south than from
east to west.

AZIMUTHAL PROJECTION
If you place a flat piece of paper on top of the globe, the
resulting map projection is called an azimuthal projection.
On an azimuthal projection, the plane touches the
globe at only one point. In most azimuthal projections,
this point is one of the geographic poles. The distortion Critical Thinking
near this point is very small. However, distortions of 6. Infer Why are azimuthal
projections most often used
direction, distance, and shape increase as you move away
to map areas that are near
from this point. the poles?
Azimuthal projections are most often used to map areas
that are near the North and South Poles. The figure at the
top of the next page shows an azimuthal projection.

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

Interactive Textbook 27 Maps as Models of the Earth
.AME #LASS $ATE

3%#4)/.  -APPING THE %ARTHS 3URFACE CONTINUED

M:D>:EHHD
 )DENTIFY 7HERE IS THE
SMALLEST DISTORTION IN AN
AZIMUTHAL PROJECTION

!N AZIMUTHAL PROJECTION PRODUCES VERY LITTLE DISTORTION AT THE POINT OF

CONTACT (OWEVER DISTORTION INCREASES AS YOU MOVE AWAY FROM THIS POINT

%15!, !2%! 02/*%#4)/.

)N AN EQUAL AREA PROJECTION THE AREA BETWEEN THE
LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE LINES IS THE SAME AS ON A GLOBE
!N EQUAL AREA PROJECTION CAN BE MADE FROM A CYLINDRICAL
CONIC OR AZIMUTHAL PROJECTION
)N AN EQUAL AREA PROJECTION SHAPES OF CONTINENTS
AND OCEANS ARE DISTORTED (OWEVER THE SCALE USED IN AN
EQUAL AREA PROJECTION IS THE SAME THROUGHOUT THE MAP
$SJUJDBM
5IJOLJOH 4HEREFORE THE DISTANCES BETWEEN POINTS ON THE MAP ARE
 )NFER 7HY ARE MANY ROAD ACCURATE
MAPS DRAWN AS EQUAL AREA %QUAL AREA PROJECTIONS MAY BE USED TO MAP LARGE LAND
PROJECTIONS AREAS SUCH AS CONTINENTS 4HE FIGURE BELOW SHOWS AN
EXAMPLE OF AN EQUAL AREA PROJECTION

M:D>:EHHD
 )DENTIFY 7HAT IS DISTORTED
ON AN EQUAL AREA PROJECTION
%QUAL AREA PROJECTIONS ARE USEFUL FOR DETERMINING DISTANCE
ON A MAP
#OPYRIGHT © BY (OLT 2INEHART AND 7INSTON !LL RIGHTS RESERVED
)NTERACTIVE 4EXTBOOK  -APS AS -ODELS OF THE %ARTH
Name Class Date

SECTION 2 Mapping the Earth’s Surface continued

How Is Information Shown on Maps?

The information on a map is in the form of symbols.
To read a map, you must understand the symbols on the
map. Maps can show many different kinds of information.
Almost all maps contain five pieces of information: a title,
an indicator of direction, a scale, a legend, and a date. READING CHECK
10. Describe How is
information shown on a map?
Texas Road Map

The title tells you what the

subject of the map is.
TAKE A LOOK
11. Identify What is the
The indicator of direction can show subject of the map in the
which way is north or give other figure?
information about the location of the
map. It can be a compass rose like this
one, an arrow pointing north, or a
latitude and longitude grid.

The legend tells what the symbols

on the map mean.

Legend

35 Interstate Route 21 Farm or Ranch

to Market Road
81 U. S. Route

Critical Thinking
21 State Route P4 Park Road
75 Highway - R1 Recreational
The scale shows how a distance on Loop or Spur Road
the map is related to the distance on 12. Reason Why is it
the Earth.
important for a map to
The date tells you when the have a legend?
Scale: 1:1,500,000
map was made. It may also
tell you when the information
in the map was collected.

©2003

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

Interactive Textbook 29 Maps as Models of the Earth
Name Class Date

SECTION 2 Mapping the Earth’s Surface continued

How Are Maps Made?

Much of the information used to make maps today
comes from remote sensing. Remote sensing is a way
to gather information about an object without actually
READING CHECK touching the object.
13. Define What is remote Today, most maps are made from photographs.
sensing? Cameras on low-flying airplanes take the photographs.
However, mapmakers are beginning to use new equipment
that can be carried on satellites as well as airplanes.

REMOTE SENSING AND SATELLITES

Satellites can take detailed photographs of large and small
areas of land. They send the information back to computers
on Earth. These pictures are very helpful to mapmakers.

Math Focus
14. Calculate How far
above the Earth’s surface, in
kilometers, was the satellite
that took this picture?
1 km ⫽ 0.62 mi
Satellites can produce very detailed images of the Earth’s surface. The satellite that
took this picture was 423 mi above the Earth’s surface!

REMOTE SENSING AND RADAR

Satellites can also see energy that your eyes cannot.
Radar is a tool that uses powerful radio waves to map
Earth’s surface. First, the waves are sent from a satellite
to the area you want to map. Then, the waves reflect off
the land and travel back to a receiver on the satellite. The
satellite interprets the radio waves to make an image.
Radio waves can move through clouds and water.
Therefore, radar can be used to map areas that cannot
be easily seen. For example, the planet Venus has a very
thick and cloudy atmosphere. However, scientists have
been able to map the surface of Venus using radar from
satellites.
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
Interactive Textbook 30 Maps as Models of the Earth
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SECTION 2 Mapping the Earth’s Surface continued

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM

Satellites can keep you from getting lost. The global
positioning system (GPS) can help you find where you
are on Earth. GPS is a system of satellites that travel
around the Earth. The satellites send radio waves to
receivers on Earth. The receivers calculate the latitude,
longitude, and elevation of a certain place. READING CHECK
15. Identify What is GPS?

Satellites orbit the Earth.

They send signals to
receivers on Earth’s surface.

TAKE A LOOK
16. Describe What do GPS
A GPS receiver gets signals from several satellites do?
satellites. The receiver uses the signals
to determine its exact location.

GPS is very common in people’s lives today. Mapmakers

use GPS to check the location of boundary lines between
countries. Airplane and boat pilots use GPS for navigating.
GPS receivers are even put into cars and watches!

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

A geographic information system (GIS) is a
computerized system that shows information about an
area. Mapmakers can use a GIS to store and view many
pieces of information about an area. Mapmakers can
enter different types of information about an area into
the GIS. Each piece of information is stored in a separate
layer. Then, the mapmakers can combine many layers
into a single map. READING CHECK
A GIS can be a very useful tool for a mapmaker. Using 17. Define What is a GIS?
a GIS, a mapmaker can produce many maps of the same
area. Each map shows different information about the
area. For example, a GIS can be used to make a map that
shows only the roads and buildings in an area. The map-
maker can then add another layer that shows the rivers in
the area. Using a computer to do this is much faster and
more accurate than doing it by hand.

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Interactive Textbook 31 Maps as Models of the Earth
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Section 2 Review
SECTION VOCABULARY
azimuthal projection a map projection that is cylindrical projection a map projection that is
made by moving the surface features of the made by moving the surface features of the
globe onto a plane globe onto a cylinder
conic projection a map projection that is made remote sensing the process of gathering and
by moving the surface features of the globe analyzing information about an object without
onto a cone physically being in touch with the object

1. Compare How is a conic projection different from a cylindrical projection? How

are they similar?

2. List What are five pieces of information that are found on all maps?

3. Identify Which type of map projection is most useful for showing the distances
between two points on the Earth?

4. Explain Which type of map projection is often used to map the United States?

5. Describe Why is radar useful for mapping areas that are covered by clouds?

6. Identify Give three types of technology that mapmakers use to make maps.

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Interactive Textbook 32 Maps as Models of the Earth
 Earth Science Answer Key continued

4. at the poles 2. If two contour lines crossed, the point at

5. the prime meridian and the 180° meridian which they crossed would have to have two
elevations. It is not possible for one point to
have more than one elevation.
SECTION 2 MAPPING THE EARTH’S
SURFACE 3. the change in elevation between two
contour lines
1. Moving information from a curved surface
to a flat surface causes distortions. 4. 50 m
2. a way of transferring information from a 5. colors and symbols
globe to a flat surface 6. gentle, steep, higher
3. Longitude lines are equally spaced. Latitude
Review
lines are unequally spaced.
1. lines on a map that connect points of equal
4. The cone touches the globe at each line of
longitude. elevation
2. Maps of areas with high relief have large
5. north and south
contour intervals. Maps of areas with little
6. The poles represent natural points at which relief have small contour intervals.
a plane can touch the Earth’s surface.
3. Feature Color on a topographic map
7. at the point of contact
Contour lines brown
8. Road maps are often used to show dis-
tances. Equal-area projections show dis- Bodies of water blue
tances accurately. Major roads red
9. shape Buildings and bridges black
10. in symbols Wooded areas green

11. Texas Cities gray or red

12. so that people can interpret the symbols on 4. elevation, bodies of water, major roads,
the map bridges, railroad tracks
13. gathering information on a place without 5. about 145 m
touching it 6. a closed circle
14. about 262 km
15. a system of satellites that orbit Earth Chapter 3 Minerals of the
16. Orbit Earth and send signals to the surface.
17. a system on a computer that shows informa-
Earth’s Crust
tion about an area SECTION 1 WHAT IS A MINERAL?
1. Minerals form naturally.
Review
2. It is not a mineral, because it is not inorganic.
1. Both show the features of the Earth’s sur-
3. a substance made of two or more elements
face as they would appear if they were
bound together
projected on a curved piece of paper.
Cylindrical projections project the features 4. the regular pattern of atoms that make them up
onto a cylinder. Conic projections project 5. cubes
the features onto a cone. 6. All are silicate minerals, so all contain
2. title, scale, indicator of direction, legend, date silicon and oxygen.
3. equal-area projection 7. Sulfate minerals contain compounds of
4. conic projection sulfur and oxygen; sulfide minerals contain
compounds of sulfur and another element.
5. Radar can penetrate thick clouds and collect
images of the land beneath. Review
6. satellites, GPS, GIS 1. solid, inorganic, crystalline, naturally formed
2. An atom is the smallest part of an element that
SECTION 3 TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS has all the qualities of that element. Elements
1. the height of a point above sea level are made up of only one kind of atom.

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Interactive Textbook Answer Key 35 Earth Science