LAB 1: Location & Distance on Earth

Transcription

1 Name School LAB 1: Location & Distance on Earth Knowing that the earth is an oblate spheroid, (sphere), we can easily distinguish a specific location by utilizing a grid system much like you would use Excel or even graph paper. We call these lines either latitude (parallels) or longitude (meridians). Lines of latitude, otherwise known as parallels, are measured from the center of the earth. These lines are angles based from the equator (0 ) to either the North (90 ) or the South (90 ) Poles. This can be seen in Figure 1, the angles are measured as though a protractor was placed in the center of the Earth, and we are measuring an angle from the center to the earth s crust. Lines of longitude, otherwise known as meridians, are measured going east or west of the Prime Meridian (which passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich England). The word meridian implies that these lines are not paralleled, but intersect at both the north and south poles. The farthest one can travel both east and west is 180 : (180 w e=360 ) Figure 1: Latitude & Longitude Using both these types of lines we can create intersecting points which will allow us to use the earth s grid system. To further complicate the situation, we can subdivide each degree value. Along a great circle, (the largest circle drawn on the globe) 1 is equal to 69.1mi or 111km in distance. In order to subdivide a degree, think of time (although there is no correlation with time and distance at this time). One degree can be divided up into 60 minutes (or subsections) and each minute can be divided into 60 seconds (or subsections). How does this look? Instead of thinking that a location is 45 1/2, we would write it as 45, 30 or 45 degrees and 30 minutes. What if we have something like 56, 59, 60? We would rewrite that is The geographic grid used on the globe is based on the division of a circle in degrees. Each degree is divided into equal parts called minutes, and each minute into equal parts called. 2. Latitude is numbered from degrees at the equator to degrees at either pole. 3. Longitude is numbered from degrees at the prime meridian to degrees at the International Date Line. Patrich Physical Geography Lab 1

2 Length of a Degree of Latitude: A degree of longitude varies in length at different latitudes, becoming shorter as the latitude increases. The table below illustrates this: Length of a Degree of Latitude At Latitude Statute Miles At Latitude Statute Miles Based upon the above table, answer questions How do the length of parallels differ as one approaches the poles? 5. What is the distance in miles around the world at the equator? 6. What is the distance around the world at 40 South Latitude? 7. At which latitude is the distance around the world one-half of the equatorial distance? 8. How many miles between a point 60 North Latitude and 30 West longitude and a point 60 North Latitude and 60 East Longitude? 180w 0* 180e 9. How many miles between a point 30 South Latitude and 60 West Longitude and a point 30 South Latitude and 80 East Longitude? 180w 0* 180e Patrich Physical Geography Lab 2

3 USE THE FIGURE BELOW TO ANSWER QUESTIONS What are the coordinates of point A? 12. Locate the same coordinates on a globe. In what country is point A located? 13. What are the coordinates of point B? 14. Locate the same coordinates on the globe. In what country is point B located? 15. Locate a point at 10 South Latitude and 45 West Longitude. Mark it C. 16. Locate a point at 30 North Latitude and 120 East Longitude. Mark it D. 17. What is the distance in degrees and miles between points A & D? 180w 0* 180e Patrich Physical Geography Lab 3

4 Latitude & Longitude Continued 17. Write the following in their correct form: 60 degrees, 29 minutes, 5 seconds, North Latitude 10 degrees, 20 minutes, 50 seconds, South Latitude 125 degrees, 45 minutes, 3 seconds, West Longitude 18. Correct the errors in the following: 89 47' 65" S ' 37" E 65 77' 42" W 34 84' 61" W 40 50" 21' S Using an atlas or your smart phones, determine the latitude and longitude of the following cities. Give latitude & longitude to the nearest degree CITIES LATITUDE LONGITUDE 18. Tokyo, Japan 19. Beijing, China 20. Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A. 21. Johannesburg, South Africa 22. Honolulu, HI, U.S.A. 23. Melbourne, Australia 24. New York, NY, U.S.A. 25. Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A. Patrich Physical Geography Lab 4

5 Using the map of China and Japan below, please complete the report sheet- Questions Patrich Physical Geography Lab 5

6 Use the chart and map below to plot the following latitude and longitude coordinates. Be sure to label each point with the correct letter Question Patrich Physical Geography Lab 6

7 Distances & Time Time on earth can be understood two different ways; either using actual solar time (solar noon) or using standard time (watches). It is also understood that each mean solar day is 24 hours, and the earth rotates 360 degrees in one day, (here comes the math) or 15 per hour (or 1 per 4 minutes of time). We also know that the earth rotates counter clockwise, and that locations west of the Prime Meridian are always earlier in time. 38. What would be the solar time of a person living 1 of longitude west of the noon meridian? 39. What would be the solar time of a person living 4 of longitude east of the noon meridian? Figure 2: Earths Rotation 40. If it is noon, solar time at 50 W longitude, what is the solar time at each of the following locations? 70 W 65 E 90 W 130 E 41. What would be the Solar time of a person living 44 west of the noon meridian? 42. Now imagine that you are lost at sea on a boat, on some old ABC television show. Your watch was set to a time at a known location, (the Prime Meridian) and we also know the current time because of the sun. We have determined that it is Solar Noon at our location on the boat What is the ship s longitude if, at that instant, the time on the prime meridian is the following? 6:00 p.m. 1:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. Patrich Physical Geography Lab 7

8 Public Land Survey: Township & Range Another way for us to divide up regions is by using the Public Land Survey (PLS). The combination of a topographic map and this system can be used to locate features within a few acres and is a primary means of subdividing tracts of land for sale. The organization of the township-section system is based on the definition of base lines and principle meridians The position of a base line and meridian within a region may or may not coincide with latitude and longitude. Townships are areas of 6 miles on a side (36 sq. mi), bordered on the east and west by range lines and on the north and south by township lines. Each township is subdivided into 36 sections of 1 mile on a side. When is it broken down even smaller into quadrants, which are where we come across ¼ mile increments otherwise known as 40 acres. Ultimately this system was designed when man headed west, and each person was allotted a 40 acre parcel of land, and this was the best way to divide up the land (since surveying at that time was too slow and expensive to complete. All answers when using the Public Land Survey go from small to big: ¼, ¼, Section #, Township, Range Who is credited to creating this system? 43. Patrich Physical Geography Lab 8

9 Follow each of the letters A through D, and write the Public Land Survey location of each in the provided spaces. As an example, letter J has already been completed. R2W R1W R1E R2E R3E R4E T2N T1N T1S T2S 25. J. SW ¼, NE ¼, Section # 4, Township T2N, Range R4E 26 A: ¼, ¼, Section #, Township, Range 27 B: ¼, ¼, Section #, Township, Range 28 C: ¼, ¼, Section #, Township, Range 29 D: ¼, ¼, Section #, Township, Range Patrich Physical Geography Lab 9