Reading a Time Zone Map

024-027 Chapter 1/EH 10/17/02 11:37 AM Page 27

>> Defining the Skill A time zone map shows the 24 time zones of the world. The prime meridian runs through Greenwich (GREHN•ich), England. Each zone east of Greenwich is one hour later than the zone before. Each zone west of Greenwich is one hour earlier. The International Date Line runs through the Pacific Ocean. It is the location where each day begins. If it is Saturday to the east of the International Date Line, then it is Sunday to the west of it.

>> Applying the Skill Use the strategies listed below to help you find times and time differences on a time zone map.

How to Read a Time Zone Map Strategy 1 Read the title. It tells you what the map is intended to show. 1 WORLD TIME ZONES Strategy 2 Read the labels at the top Mid- 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Noon 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 of the map. They show the hours across the 2 P.M. night A.M. A.M. A.M. A.M. A.M. A.M. A.M. A.M. A.M. A.M. A.M. P.M. P.M. P.M. P.M. P.M. P.M. P.M. P.M. P.M. P.M. world when it is noon in Greenwich. The

labels at the bottom show the number of Prime Meridian hours earlier or later than the time in A S I A 8:30 A.M. EUROPE NORTH 4:30 AMERICA P.M. Greenwich. 5:45 P.M. 3:30 6:00 P.M. P.M. 5:30 6:30 P.M. Strategy 3 Locate a place whose time A F R I C A P.M. International Date Line 2:30 A.M. 3 5:30 you know. Locate the place where you want SOUTH P.M. AMERICA 9:30 to know the time. Count the number of time P.M. 3:30 AUSTRALIA zones between them. Then add or subtract A.M. Irregular time zones that number of hours. +12 2 +11 –12 –11 –10 –9 –8 –7 –6 –5 –4 –3 –2 –10 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9 +10 For example, if it is noon time on the west Hour ahead or behind noon coast of Africa, you can see that it is 7:00 A.M. on the east coast of the United States. That is a difference of five hours.

>> Practicing the Skill On the Internet, refer to http://www.worldtimezone.com/time24.htm. Choose three pairs of locations and compare the time zones for each pair.

Welcome to the World 27