GG101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Great Circle, Geoid, Map Projection
Document Summary
Describe the basic geometry of the earth. Review the properties of parallels and meridians. Introduce the use of the latitude and longitude coordinate system describe standard times zones. Examine the basic properties of map projections. It is flattened at the poles and bulges in the equatorial zone. Geodesy: the science that measures the shape of the earth and its magnetic field. Geoid: the shape term that we apply to the earth. Take earth and slice it into two halves with a plane so that the plane passes through the center of the body. The line that is traced on the surface of the earth is called the great circle. Divide the earth in two unequal halves with a plane. The plane does not pass through the center. A line that runs north-south on the globe connecting the poles. Follows a pathway along 180 degrees of arctic. They are one half of a great circle.
