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How to Map
Satellite Telemetry Data
Instructions
The Satellite Data Mapping Charts in this lesson will help students pinpoint the
manatee's location on a map. Using the satellite data provided in each migration
update, they should follow the instructions for columns A-J on the charts provided.
With a transparency, they can draw on top of your map as they work to find the exact
location. Step by step examples
are also provided below.
Materials Needed
- Map, Transparency, Markers (2 colors, erasable), Ruler
- Copy of Student Instructions
- Copy of Chart for Mapping LATITUDE
- Copy of Chart for Mapping LONGITUDE
Example #1: Find the Manatee's Latitude
| DATE | Latitude | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (A) Manatee's Latitude |
(B) | (C) | (D) | (E)= (C)x(D) |
|
|
1/23/02 |
25.700 N |
25 N |
.700 |
115 mm |
80.5 mm |
Column A: Record the manatee's exact latitude here.
Column B: Find the latitude line nearest the eagle, directly to the south, and record that number here. Put a transparency on top of your map. Draw a line along this latitude line.
Column C: The manatee is a fraction of a degree north of the line you just drew for B. As given in the satellite data, record the fraction as a decimal in this column.
Column D: Measure the scale of your map for latitude. Record the scale here in mm per degree latitude.
Column E: Find out how far north (in mm) the manatee is located from the latitude line you drew for (B). To do this, multiply the decimal in column C by the scale of your map D and record the product here. Now draw a line this distrance north of the line you drew for (B). The manatee is located on this latitude line.
Example #2: Find the Manatee's Longitude
| DATE | Longitude | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (F) Manatee's Longitude |
(G) | (H) | (I) | (J)= (H)x(I) |
|
|
1/23/02 |
81.300W |
81 W |
.300 |
164 mm |
49.2 mm |
Column F: Record the manatee's longitude here.
Column G: Find the longitude line nearest the manatee, directly to the east, and record that number here. Put the transparency back on your map. Draw a line along this longitude line.
Column H: The manatee is a fraction of a degree west of the line you just drew for G. As given in the satellite data, record the fraction as a decimal in this column.
Column I: Measure the scale of your map for longitude. Record the scale here in mm per degree longitude.
Column J: Find out how far west (in mm) the manatee is located from the longitude line you drew for (G). To do this, multiply the decimal in column (H) by the scale of your map (I) and record the product here. Now draw a line this distrance west of the line you drew for (G). The manatee is located on this longitude line, exactly where it intersects the latitude line.
Note to Teachers
You may need to alter these instructions, depending on the scale of the map you use.
These instructions assume your map shows increments of 1 degree. If your map is different
than this, follow the basic idea but adjust your numbers accordingly.
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