Geography
Geography teacher resources
Spherical Earth to Flat Map: An aid for explaining map projections
The file below (A4 size) contains a satellite image map of the world as it would appear if the earth had been peeled like an orange such that it was flat. The resultant 'gore' map is useful in illustrating the problem faced by cartographers trying to represent a spherical earth as a flat map (i.e. the concept of map projections). I use a copy printed on OHT in conjunction with one I have printed on photopaper, cut out and made into a globe. At the very least, you can have fun making your own mini globe!
Oliver Tomlinson
Senior Lecturer in GIS
Spherical Earth to Flat Map: An aid for explaining map projections
Here is a satellite image map of the world as it would appear if the earth had been peeled like an orange such that it was flat. The resultant 'gore' map is useful in illustrating the problem faced by cartographers trying to represent a spherical earth as a flat map (i.e. the concept of map projections). I use a copy printed on OHT in conjunction with one I have printed on photopaper, cut out and made into a globe. At the very least, you can have fun making your own mini globe!
Satellite Image of Derby
Here is a poster of the city of Derby as imaged by Landsat 7's Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) in September 2002 and information for teachers on how the image was created and what it shows. You may simply want to put a copy on your classroom wall, however it could also be used to create a class set which could then be used in a class image interpretation exercise, without the technological headache of using computers. Please get in touch if you would like us to produce a similar poster centred on a location of your choosing.
Oliver Tomlinson
Senior Lecturer in GIS
