1. Geography Handbook Notes
Pre-AP Geography

2. Globes
What is a Globe?
A globe is a round model of the Earth that shows its shape, lands, and directions as they truly relate to one another.
Advantages of using globes
Actual representation of the real earth
Represent true land shape, distances, and directions
Disadvantages of using globes
Cannot show detailed information
Difficult to carry

3. Maps
What is a map?
A map is a flat drawing of all or part of the Earth’s surface.
Cartographers, or mapmakers, use mathematical formulas to transfer information from the round globe to a flat map.
Advantages of using maps
Show small areas in great detail
Display different types of information
such as population densities or natural resources
Transport easily

4. Maps continued……… Disadvantages of maps
Distort, or change, the accuracy of shapes and distances
The Earth is NOT flat!

5. Earth Divided Earth is divided into 4 Hemispheres
What are hemispheres?
Hemi in Greek means “half’
Sphere is a round, solid figure
So a hemisphere is half of a round, solid figure
Equator measures 0 degrees
Divides the Earth into Northern & Southern Hemispheres
Everything North of the Equator is in the Northern Hemisphere
Everything South of the Equator is in the Southern Hemisphere

6. Earth divided continued……..
Prime Meridian
measures 0 degrees
Runs through Greenwich, England
Divides the Earth into Eastern & Western Hemispheres
Everything east of the Prime Meridian is in the Eastern Hemisphere
Everything west of the Prime Meridian is in the Western Hemisphere

7. Lat and Long
When determining which directions the Equator and Prime Meridian run
Think of a compass
The Equator
Runs east and west
BUT
Determines if something is in the Northern Hemisphere of the Southern Hemisphere
Measures North or South
The Prime Meridian
Runs north and south
Determines if something is in the Eastern Hemisphere or the Western Hemisphere
Measures East or West

8. Location (Latitude)
To locate places on Earth, geographers use a system of imaginary lines that crisscross the globe.
Called latitude and longitude
Latitude
These lines are imaginary circles that run east to west around the globe.
Known as parallels
Divide the globe into units called degrees
Run in an east and west direction
Equator
Circles the middle of the Earth like a belt
Located halfway between the North and South Poles
The Equator measures 0° latitude
When finding latitude, N or S will follow the latitude coordinate
Because anything North of the equator is in the Northern Hemisphere
Anything South of the equator is in the Southern Hemisphere

9. Latitude continued…… Latitude
For example: The North Pole is 90°N (north) latitude and the South Pole is 90°S (south) latitude.
The Equator measures 0° because it is exactly in the middle of the two poles (North & South)
Imagine you could draw a line from the North Pole into the center of Earth and rom the center straight to the surface. The lines would form a 90° angle. That’s why the North Pole has the latitude 90°N and the South Pole has the latitude 90°S
A line from the center of Earth to Washington, D.C., would form an angle of about 38°, which is why the latitude of Washington, D.C., is 38°

11. Latitude Important Latitude lines to remember:
North Pole measures 90°N
Arctic Circle measures 66.5°N
Tropic of Cancer measures 23.5°N
Equator 0°
Tropic of Capricorn measures 23.5°S
Antarctic Circle measures 66.5°S
South Pole measures 90°S

12. Latitude H A F A ______________________ B ______________________ D
C _____________________
D______________________
E ______________________
F ______________________
G _____________________
H _____________________
J ______________________
K ______________________ D
10° J C
10° E G B K

13. Longitude Lines of longitude—run from the North Pole to the South Pole
Also known as meridians
Divide the globe into units called degrees
Prime Meridian (also called the Meridian of Greenwich)
Measures 0° longitude
Runs through Greenwich, England
Circles the middle of the Earth
Runs through both the North Pole and the South Pole
When finding longitude, E or W will follow the longitude coordinate
Because anything East of the Prime Meridian is in the Eastern Hemisphere
Anything West of the Prime Meridian is in the Western Hemisphere

14. Longitude Antimeridian measures 180 degrees
Opposite the Prime Meridian
This antemeridian is also known as the International Date Line
The Earth can be divided into 360°
Each degree is a line of longitude
There are 180° to the east of the Prime Meridian
And 180° to the west of the Prime Meridian
Lines of Longitude are closest together near the poles and farthest apart at the equator

15. Longitude Important Latitude lines to remember: Prime Meridian 0°
International Date Line measures 180°
Antimeridian (opposite the Prime Meridian)

16. Longitude A C B

17. Longitude F B G K D E 0° 30° 30° C H A J A _______________________

18. Latitude and Longitude together
Finding locations
ALWAYS FIND LATITUDE OF A POINT FIRST
1st step – Locate equator
Then ask the following question:
Is the point north or south of the equator?
If it is North of the equator, then it is in the Northern Hemisphere
If it is South of the equator, then it is in the Southern Hemisphere
2nd step
Determine what latitude line the point is located on or near
3rd step
Write that coordinate down with its label N or S
4th step – Locate Prime Meridian
Then ask the following question:
Is the point east or west of the Prime Meridian?
If it is East of the P.M., then it is in the Eastern Hemisphere
If it is West of the P.M., then it is in the Western Hemisphere
5th step
Write that coordinate down behind the latitude coordinate with its label E or W
Example: °N – 75°E
This tells me that the point I am looking for is on the 60° latitude line north of the equator and the 75° longitude line east of the Prime Meridian

19. E C D B A F

20. Finding degrees between
When finding degrees between latitude points, use the following steps:
1st – Look at the hemisphere of both coordinates
If both latitudes are located in the same hemisphere
You will subtract the coordinates
Example #1: How many degrees of latitude between 65°N and 90°N?
They are both in the Northern Hemisphere so you would subtract
90 – 65 = 25° of latitude between those two latitude lines
Example #2: How many degrees of longitude between 175°E and 62°E?
They are both in the Eastern Hemisphere so you would subtract
175 – 62 = 113° between those two longitude lines

21. Finding degrees between continued…
If the latitudes are located in different hemispheres
You will add the coordinates together
Example #3: How many degrees of longitude between 123°E and 74°W?
Both coordinates are located in different hemispheres so you would add them together
= 197° between those two longitude lines
Example #4: How many degrees of latitude between 81°N and 26°S?
Both latitude lines are located in different hemispheres so you would add them together
= 107° between those two longitude lines

22. Degrees between practice
Find the degrees between the following latitude and longitude lines:
90°N and 90°S
115°E and 124°E
67°W and 134°E
58°S and 8°S
12°W and 168°W
99°E and 99°W
0° and 123°E
0° and 65°S
79°N and 78°N
106°W and 25°E