Earth at Night

You can use either Google Earth (round) or Night Earth (flat) for this lab – it’s up to you.

1. Compare the Earth at Night images to the landforms seen on the Mercator and Robinson Projections. What irregularities do you see?

2. Which projection does the satellite image resemble most as far as landshapes?

3. Identify 5 of the countries with the brightest light. Fill in the chart on your sheet using information from the data sites above.

Country Population Pop Density Growth rate Life expectancy Children p/woman GDP p/capita

4. Identify 5 of the countries with the least light. Fill in the chart on your sheet using information from the data sites below.

Country Population Pop Density Growth rate Life expectancy Children p/woman GDP p/capita

5. Compare the information you collected regarding the countries with the brightest light to the countries with the least light. What do you think accounts for the difference. Write several sentences about this.

6. Find the names of the five most populated countries and list them below. Compare the light patterns you find. Are they brightly lit? What do you think accounts for any differences?

7. Viewing the Earth at Night, one can note the lights lining the Nile River but not the Amazon. What do you think accounts for this?

8. Which of the Great Lakes are outlined by lights? Which are not? Why? Support your response?

9. What is the approximate longitude line that separates the US into well-lit and not well-lit? Why do you think this is? US MAP

10. Compare the relative brightness of South Korea and North Korea. What is the difference? Explain why this difference exists using the data tables.