GEOGRAPHY NOTES
MAPS AND GLOBES (Global and Local)
1. MAPS AND ATLASES
What is a Map?
A map is a drawing of the Earth or part of the Earth seen from above.
Maps show:
• Countries
• Cities
• Rivers
• Roads
• Mountains
What is an Atlas?
An atlas is a book that contains many maps of the world or different countries.
It helps us:
• Find places
• Study continents and countries
• Compare regions
Using the Atlas Index
The atlas index is found at the back of the atlas.
Example:
Place Page Grid
Johannesburg 32 D4
Steps to find a place:
1. Look up the place in the index
2. Find the page number
3. Use the grid reference to locate it
2. LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE
Latitude
Latitude lines run east to west around the Earth.
They measure distance north or south of the Equator.
Diagram: Latitude
North Pole
●
----------- 60°N
----------- 30°N
----------- EQUATOR 0° -----------
----------- 30°S
----------- 60°S
●
South Pole
Key line:
Equator (0°) divides the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres
Longitude
Longitude lines run from North Pole to South Pole.
They measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
Diagram: Longitude
North Pole
●
\ | /
\ | /
-----------\ | /-----------
30°W 0° 30°E
(Prime Meridian)
-----------/ | \-----------
/ | \
/ | \
●
South Pole
3. SCALE ON MAPS
A scale shows the relationship between map distance and real distance.
Line Scale
0 50 100 km
|------|-------|
Learners measure distance using the line.
Word Scale
Example:
1 cm represents 10 km
Ratio Scale
Example:
1 : 50 000
This means:
1 cm on the map = 50 000 cm on the ground
Calculating Distance
Example:
Map distance = 4 cm
Scale = 1 cm = 10 km
Real distance:
4 × 10 = 40 km
4. THE GLOBE
A globe is a round model of the Earth.
Diagram: Globe
_________
.-' '-.
/ \
| EARTH |
| Continents & |
| Oceans |
\ /
'-._________.-'
A globe shows:
• Continents
• Oceans
• Latitude
• Longitude
5. HEMISPHERES
A hemisphere is half of the Earth.
Diagram
Northern Hemisphere
▲
|
--------------|-------------- Equator
|
▼
Southern Hemisphere
South Africa is in the:
• Southern Hemisphere
• Eastern Hemisphere
6. EARTH'S ROTATION (DAY AND NIGHT)
The Earth spins on its axis.
This movement is called rotation.
The Earth takes 24 hours to rotate once.
Diagram
SUN
Day side Night side
↺
(Earth rotating)
Side facing the Sun → Day
Side away from the Sun → Night
7. WORLD TIME ZONES
Because the Earth rotates, different places have different times.
The Earth is divided into 24 time zones.
Diagram
|----|----|----|----|----|----|
-12 -9 -6 -3 0 +3 +6
(Prime Meridian)
Each zone differs by 1 hour.
International Date Line
Located near 180° longitude.
Diagram
0° Prime Meridian 180° Date Line
| |
-------|----------------------|-------
Europe Pacific
Crossing the line changes the date.
8. SOUTH AFRICAN STANDARD TIME
South Africa uses one time zone.
Based on 30° East longitude.
Called SAST (South African Standard Time).
9. EARTH'S REVOLUTION
The Earth moves around the Sun.
This is called revolution.
It takes 365¼ days.
Diagram
(Summer)
Sun
(Winter)
10. EARTH'S AXIS TILT
The Earth is tilted at 23.5°.
Diagram
/|
/ | 23.5°
/ |
This tilt causes seasons.
11. EQUINOX AND SOLSTICE
Equinox
Day and night are equal.
Occurs in March and September.
Diagram
Sunlight evenly hits Earth
Solstice
Summer Solstice
Longest day
Winter Solstice
Shortest day
Diagram
Summer Winter
→ →
More light Less light
12. SEASONAL CHANGES
Because of Earth's tilt and revolution:
Season Day Length Temperature
Summer Long days Hot
Winter Short days Cold
13. SATELLITE IMAGES
A satellite image is a picture of the Earth taken from space.
Diagram
Satellite
|
|
▼
(Earth surface)
What Satellite Images Show
Satellite images can show:
• Water
• Vegetation
• Cities
• Farms
• Clouds
Uses of Satellite Images
They help with:
• Weather forecasting
• Monitoring climate change
• Disaster management
• Agriculture
• Environmental protection