2009 Road Scholars Event Guidelines Rocky Mountain Science Olympiad Coach’s Clinic University of Colorado-Colorado Springs January 9-10, 2009

Presented by: Mark A. Van Hecke National Science Olympiad Earth-Space Science Events Rules Chair Anchor Bay High School Fair Haven, MI

OBJECTIVES: Determine how topographic maps are configured on the Earth’s surface Locate marginal information on USGS topographic maps Determine approximate and exact geographic coordinates

Topographic Maps How are they configured on Earth’s surface? Topographic Map Features

Topographic Maps Topographic maps are highly detailed representations of natural and human features found on the surface of the Earth. One or more sets of topographic maps will be used in the Science Olympiad Road Scholars competition.

Topographic Maps Most of the topographic maps used in the Road Scholars competition are 7.5” series quadrangles published by the United States Geologic Survey. The land area shown on each map represents about square miles of the Earth’s surface.

Topographic Maps LatitudeLongitude Lines of longitude and latitude are used to divide each degree of the Earth’s surface in half into 30 minute units, then in quarters to form 15 minute units and then in eighths to form 7.5” (minute) units.

Marginal Information Marginal Information found on USGS Topographic Maps Nine Mental Sectors Location of Features

Marginal Information Topographic maps are loaded with information that will help you find the location of things on the map and to understand the map and its features. We’ll begin in the upper-right corner and continue through the rest of the map in a clockwise-direction.

Marginal Information Northeast Corner The NE coordinates of the map are 43°30’N 72°15’W

Marginal Information Southeast Corner The SE coordinates of the map are 43°22’30”N 72°15’00”W

Marginal Information Southwest Corner The SW coordinates of the map are 43°22’30”N 72°22’30”W

Marginal Information Northwest Corner The NW coordinates of the map are 43°30’00”N 72°22’30”W

Geographic Coordinates Geographic Grid Approximate Geographic Coordinates Exact Geographic Coordinates Locating Topographic Map Features

Geographic Coordinates You can use tic line information located on all four neatlines to help you determine approximate and exact geographic locations on topographic maps.

Reading Latitude Read upward from the bottom neatline along the right neatline. You should see a tic line along the margin labeled 25’

Reading Latitude Look directly across the map along the left neatline. You should see another tic line along the margin labeled 25’

Reading Latitude Now continue reading upwards along the right neatline. You should see a tic line along the margin labeled 27’30”

Reading Latitude Read directly across the map. You should see another tic line along the margin labeled 27’30”

Reading Latitude Read upward to the upper right corner of the map. You should see a tic line along the margin labeled 43°30’ You should see another tic line along the margin labeled 43°30’ if you read directly across to the left side of the map.

Reading Latitude As you read latitude upwards, the number of minutes and seconds increases. Latitude measurements in the United States are always north of the Equator Measurement of latitude is the same on the right and left sides of the map. There are 2.5 minutes between each measured section

Reading Longitude Locate the longitude reading of 43° 22’ 30” printed near the lower right corner of the quadrangle.

Reading Longitude Read to the left along the bottom neatline until you reach the tic line marked 17’30”. Look directly across the map along the top neatline. You should see another tic line along the margin labeled 17’30”

Reading Longitude Continue reading to the left along the bottom neatline until you reach the tic line marked 20’. Look directly across the map along the top neatline. You should see another tic line along the margin labeled 20’.

Reading Longitude Continue reading to the left along the bottom neatline until you reach the southwest corner marked 72°22’30” Look directly across the map along the top neatline to the northwest corner. You should see another tic line along the margin labeled 72°22’30”

Reading Longitude As you read longitude from right to left the number of minutes and seconds increases Longitude measurements in the United States are always east of the Prime Meridian Although there are 2.5 minutes between each section, lines of longitude are not equidistant.

Geographic Coordinates Geographic Coordinates are formed at the intersection of lines of latitude and longitude

Geographic Coordinates Northeast Corner The NE coordinates of the map are 43°30’00”N 72°15’00”W

Geographic Coordinates Southeast Corner The SE coordinates of the map are 43°22’30”N 72°15’00”W

Geographic Coordinates Southwest Corner The SW coordinates of the map are 43°22’30”N 72°22’30”W

Geographic Coordinates Northwest Corner The NW coordinates of the map are 43°22’30”N 72°22’30”W

Identifying Map Sectors You can use tic line information located on all four neatlines to help you identify the nine mental sectors of your topographic map.

Identifying Map Sectors The tic line boundaries can be used to form the Nine Mental Sectors of topographic maps that can be used as a reference point to locate features

Identifying Map Sectors The cross-hairs can be used to determine the approximate coordinates of features located near them.

Exact Coordinates Let’s use the Claremont, NH map to determine the exact coordinates of Union Church in Sector 7

Exact Latitude Coordinates To determine latitude: Measure the distance in millimeters (mm) from the bottom neatline to where the cross joins the main building. That measurement should be approximately 40mm

Exact Latitude Coordinates Divide that measurement (40mm) by the distance in mm from the bottom sector boundary to the top sector boundary. Your answer should be SLDN (some long decimal number)

Exact Latitude Coordinates Multiply your answer by 150-the number of seconds in a 2.5’ topographic map sector Your answer should be This is the number of seconds that the building is away from the sector boundary

Exact Latitude Coordinates Now, let’s convert our seconds to minutes… First round to the nearest ones-place which would give you 31 seconds…

Exact Latitude Coordinates Now, add the 31” to the value of the bottom sector boundary. If the bottom neatline measures 43°22’30”N and we add an additional 31”, then our latitude measurement for Union Church will be: 43° 23’ 01”N

Exact Latitude Coordinates Now, add the 31” to the value of the bottom sector boundary. If the bottom neatline measures 43°22’30”N and we add an additional 31”, then our latitude measurement for Union Church will be: 43° 23’ 01”N

Exact Longitude Coordinates Measure the distance in millimeters from the right sector boundary to where the cross joins the main building on Union Church in Sector 7. That measurement should be 128mm

Exact Longitude Coordinates Divide that measurement (128mm) by 141-the distance in mm from the right sector boundary to the left sector boundary. Your SLDM should be

Exact Longitude Coordinates Multiply your answer by 150- the number of seconds in a 2.5’ sector. Your answer should be Round that answer to 136 seconds (136”)

Exact Longitude Coordinates Determine the number of minutes in 136 seconds (2). You will have 16 seconds left over. Add 02’16” to the value of the right sector boundary. If the right sector boundary measures 72° 20’ and we add an additional 02’16”, your answer should be: 72° 22’ 16”W

Exact Longitude Coordinates The exact geographic coordinates of the Union Church are: 43° 23’ 01”N 72° 22’ 16”W

Exact Coordinates Now on your own, find the exact geographic coordinates of the following features: Radio Tower Sector 8 Ironwood Hill Sector 4 Covered Bridge Sector 1

Exact Latitude Coordinates To determine latitude: Measure the distance in millimeters (mm) from the bottom neatline to where the cross joins the main building. That measurement should be approximately 98mm

Exact Latitude Coordinates Divide that measurement (98mm) by the distance in mm from the bottom sector boundary to the top sector boundary. Your answer should be SLDN (some long decimal number) …

Exact Latitude Coordinates Multiply your answer by 150-the number of seconds in a 2.5’ topographic map sector Your answer should be This is the number of seconds that the building is away from the sector boundary

Exact Latitude Coordinates Now, let’s convert our seconds to minutes… You will need to determine the number of minutes that can be derived from the measurement. That number is 1 minute (60 seconds) with 16 seconds left

Exact Latitude Coordinates Now, add the 01’16” to the value of the bottom sector boundary. If the bottom neatline measures 43°22’30”N and we add an additional 01’16”, then our latitude measurement for the Radio Tower in Sector 8 will be: 43° 23’ 46”N

Exact Longitude Coordinates Measure the distance in millimeters from the right sector boundary to where the cross joins the main building on Union Church in Sector 8. That measurement should be 21mm

Exact Longitude Coordinates Divide that measurement (21mm) by 141-the distance in mm from the right sector boundary to the left sector boundary. Your SLDM should be

Exact Longitude Coordinates Multiply your answer by 150- the number of seconds in a 2.5’ sector. Your answer should be Round that answer to 22 seconds (22”)

Exact Longitude Coordinates Add 22” to the value of the right sector boundary. If the right sector boundary measures 72° 17’30” and we add an additional 22”, your answer should be: 72° 17’ 52”W

Exact Longitude Coordinates The exact geographic coordinates of the Radio Tower in Sector 8 are: 43° 23’ 46”N 72° 17’ 52”W

Exact Longitude Coordinates The exact geographic coordinates of Ironwood Hill in Sector 4 are: 43° 26’ 00”N 72° 21’ 01”W

Exact Longitude Coordinates The exact geographic coordinates of Covered Bridge in Sector 1 are: 43° 27’ 47”N 72° 21’ 11”W