Basic Geography SkillsBasic Geography Skills

Before we begin to study the regions of the Before we begin to study the regions of the world, we need to have a basic world, we need to have a basic understanding of the geography of the understanding of the geography of the world.world.

As you look at a globe, how much of As you look at a globe, how much of the world do you see at one time?the world do you see at one time?

““Hemi” is the Greek word for halfHemi” is the Greek word for half HemisphereHemisphere means half of a sphere means half of a sphere The imaginary line that divides the world into The imaginary line that divides the world into

the northern and southern hemisphere is the northern and southern hemisphere is called the called the EquatorEquator..

The imaginary line that divides the world into The imaginary line that divides the world into eastern and western hemisphere is called eastern and western hemisphere is called the the Prime MeridianPrime Meridian..

To locate places To locate places north or south north or south of the Equator, of the Equator, geographers geographers use lines of use lines of latitude.latitude.

The Equator is at 0 degrees The Equator is at 0 degrees latitudelatitude

What is the lowest latitude and What is the lowest latitude and the highest latitude?the highest latitude?

0 degrees = equator0 degrees = equator

90 degrees = poles (but what 90 degrees = poles (but what poles)poles)

It is necessary to add N or S, so that it’s clear It is necessary to add N or S, so that it’s clear whether you are north or south of the equatorwhether you are north or south of the equator

Some latitude lines have special names. They divide Some latitude lines have special names. They divide the earth into regions according to the amount of the earth into regions according to the amount of

direct sunlight they receive.direct sunlight they receive.

Tropic of Capricorn

Tropic of Cancer

Antarctic Circle

Arctic Circle

Each degree north or south of the equator Each degree north or south of the equator represents approximately 69 milesrepresents approximately 69 miles

Let’s try a few locationsLet’s try a few locations

If I’m at 10 degrees North, how many miles am I If I’m at 10 degrees North, how many miles am I from the equator and in which direction?from the equator and in which direction?

If I’m at 45 degrees North, where am I?If I’m at 45 degrees North, where am I? The problem with LATITUDE alone is that I can tell The problem with LATITUDE alone is that I can tell

how far from the equator I am, but I can’t tell how far from the equator I am, but I can’t tell where I am on that latitude. I could be at 45 where I am on that latitude. I could be at 45 degrees north and be in the Atlantic, Pacific, degrees north and be in the Atlantic, Pacific, Europe, Asia or the United States.Europe, Asia or the United States.

In order to pinpoint a location you need…..In order to pinpoint a location you need…..

To locate places To locate places east or west of the east or west of the Prime Meridian, Prime Meridian, lines oflines of longitudelongitude are used. are used.

The Prime Meridian The Prime Meridian is at 0 degrees is at 0 degrees longitudelongitude..

Lines of Lines of longitudelongitude begin and end at begin and end at the North and the North and South PolesSouth Poles

DEGREES OF LONGITUDEDEGREES OF LONGITUDE The Earth was divided up by 360 evenly spaced lines The Earth was divided up by 360 evenly spaced lines

running from pole to pole. These are were called running from pole to pole. These are were called DEGREES OF LONGITUDE.DEGREES OF LONGITUDE.

If I start at ZERO and go one degree EAST, I am at If I start at ZERO and go one degree EAST, I am at ONE DEGREE EAST LONGITUDE. If I go 90 degrees ONE DEGREE EAST LONGITUDE. If I go 90 degrees to the west, or one fourth of the way around the world, to the west, or one fourth of the way around the world, I am at NINETY DEGREES WEST LONGITUDEI am at NINETY DEGREES WEST LONGITUDE

So, now, to identify my location, I simply have to give a So, now, to identify my location, I simply have to give a longitude and a latitude. If I am 20 degrees north of longitude and a latitude. If I am 20 degrees north of the equator and 20 degrees east of the Prime the equator and 20 degrees east of the Prime Meridian, I describe myself at 20N, 20E.Meridian, I describe myself at 20N, 20E.

Latitude and Longitude together will give you the Latitude and Longitude together will give you the absolute location of a placeabsolute location of a place

Some interesting things:Some interesting things:

If I go halfway around the world from the prime If I go halfway around the world from the prime meridian, I get to a line identified as 180 degrees meridian, I get to a line identified as 180 degrees of longitude. It is BOTH 180 EAST AND 180 of longitude. It is BOTH 180 EAST AND 180 WEST. The highest line of longitude, therefore, is WEST. The highest line of longitude, therefore, is 180.180.

The highest line of latitude is 90.The highest line of latitude is 90. This line of 180 degrees is also known as the This line of 180 degrees is also known as the

International Date Line: it marks a time zone International Date Line: it marks a time zone change, but it also marks a date changechange, but it also marks a date change

World Time ZonesWorld Time Zones Prior to the late 19th century, time keeping was Prior to the late 19th century, time keeping was

done locally. Each town would set their clocks to done locally. Each town would set their clocks to noon when the sun reached its zenith each day. A noon when the sun reached its zenith each day. A clockmaker or town clock would be the "official" clockmaker or town clock would be the "official" time and the citizens would set their pocket time and the citizens would set their pocket watches and clocks to the time of the town. Travel watches and clocks to the time of the town. Travel between cities meant having to change one's between cities meant having to change one's watch upon arrival. watch upon arrival.

Once railroads began to operate and move people Once railroads began to operate and move people rapidly across great distances, time became much rapidly across great distances, time became much more critical. In the early years of railroads, the more critical. In the early years of railroads, the schedules were very confusing because each stop schedules were very confusing because each stop was based on a different local time. was based on a different local time.

In 1878, Canadian Sir Sanford Fleming proposed the In 1878, Canadian Sir Sanford Fleming proposed the system of worldwide time zones that we use today. He system of worldwide time zones that we use today. He recommended that the world be divided into twenty-four recommended that the world be divided into twenty-four time zones, each spaced 15 degrees of longitude apart. time zones, each spaced 15 degrees of longitude apart. Since the earth rotates once every 24 hours and there Since the earth rotates once every 24 hours and there are 360 degrees of longitude, each hour the earth are 360 degrees of longitude, each hour the earth rotates one-twenty-fourth of a circle or 15° of longitude. rotates one-twenty-fourth of a circle or 15° of longitude.

United States railroad companies began utilizing United States railroad companies began utilizing Fleming's standard time zones in 1883. In 1884 an Fleming's standard time zones in 1883. In 1884 an International Prime Meridian Conference was held in International Prime Meridian Conference was held in Washington D.C. to standardize time and select the Washington D.C. to standardize time and select the Prime Meridian. The conference selected the longitude Prime Meridian. The conference selected the longitude of Greenwich, England as zero degrees longitude and of Greenwich, England as zero degrees longitude and established the 24 time zones based on the Prime established the 24 time zones based on the Prime Meridian. Meridian.

World Time ZonesWorld Time Zones