Globes- 3-D representation of the earth

Pros: Accurate shape, landmasses correct size and shape

Cons: Inconvienent, only able to see one side at a time

Maps- 2-Dimensional representations of the earth.

Pros: Portable, variety of sizes, more detail

Cons: Distorted sizes and distances

All maps have distortion. It is impossible to take a curved surface and make it flat

without distorting the image.

A projection is a way of showing the curved

surface on a flat map. Distance, shape,

direction, and/or area can be distorted.

NGS

Surveying- observe, measure, and record information about a specific area using satellites or field study.

Satellites- Takes pictures of the earth from space.

GOES- Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite is weather satellites that are in sync with the earth’s rotation measuring atmospheric conditions over a specific area

http://www.goes.noaa.gov/

Landsat- a group of satellites that can scan the earth in 16 days in 115 mile increments

http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/Browse/Cities/SanFrancisco.JPG

Earth Google

Space Shuttle/Station Photography- pictures taken by astronauts on space shuttle missions or while at the space station

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)- a digital database in which data (aerial photos, satellite images, maps, etc) can be combined to create a map.

Global Positioning System (GPS)- originally created for the military. Today it uses 24 satellites giving info on latitude, longitude, altitude, and time.