tiples of 10 (deka), 100 (hecto), and 1,000
many of our legal documents use it.
(kilo), or one-thousandth (milli). Thus, a
For example, most U.S. property
kilometer is 1,000 meters, 1,000 kilograms
deeds and public records use feet, miles
is a metric tonne, and a milligram is oneand acres. Quart and gallon containers,
thousandth of a gram.
bushels of grain, and inches and yards of
Of simple measurements related to
cloth are terms with which we are familgeographic analysis, the accompanying
iar, making conversion to another system
table of conversions may help:
difficult, even if it makes perfect sense.
1 hectare = 2.471 acres, or 1 acre =
To suggest that the general public
0.405 hectares
cannot change its system of measurement
1 meter = 3.28 feet, or 1 foot = 0.3048
denies history. Gone are the 19th century
meters
use of rods, chains and furlongs to mea1 meter = 1.094 yards, or 1 yard =
sure property, gills to measure liquid and
0.9144 meters
pecks to measure volume.
1 kilometer = 0.621 (statute or land)
Almost without notice, our system
mile, or 1 mile = 1.609 kilometers
of measurement is changing. We order
The recent loss of a $125 million
1 kilogram = 2.205 pounds, or 1
two-liter bottles of drink, run 200- and
NASA Mars orbiter resulted mostly from
pound = 0.455 kilograms
400-meter races and take 500-miligram
confusion between the English and metPosting this simple table in an apmedications. All of these are part of the
ric systems of measurement. The satellite’s
International System of Units
guidance system was calibrated in pounds
(SI), or the metric system.
and feet rather than kilograms and meters.
1 hectare = 2.471 acres, or 1 acre = 0.405 hectares
An 1866 law made it
This was a costly lesson in an on-going
1 meter = 3.28 feet, or 1 foot = 0.3048 meters
legal for U.S. citizens to use
U.S. battle to convert to metric weights
1 meter = 1.094 yards, or 1 yard = 0.9144 meters
the metric system, but did
and measures.
1 kilometer = 0.621 (statute or land) mile,
not mandate its usage. The
Lockheed Martin Astronautics in
or 1 mile = 1.609 kilometers
Metric Conversion Act of
Denver, Colo., constructed the Mars or1 kilogram = 2.205 pounds, or 1 pound = 0.455
1975, signed by President
biter for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laborakilograms
Gerald R. Ford, and the Trade
tory in Pasadena, Calif. The orbiter’s guidAct of 1988 sanctioned the
ance system was calibrated in the English
propriate place in the house or office
metric system as the system of weights
measurement system, while NASA exshould help to gradually begin using the
and measures for U.S. trade and compected the metric system to be used. Conmetric system.
merce.
sequently, the orbiter entered the MarWithin the next generation of U.S.
Consequently,
virtually
all
U.S.
extian atmosphere too fast and at too great
students,
metric system use will become
ports
are
now
conforming
to
the
metric
an angle, colliding disastrously with the
even more necessary. As worldwide comsystem, selling and transporting grain and
fourth planet in our solar system.
munication and trade increase, we will
coal in metric tons and chemicals in liters
Most of the world operates on the
likely see the daily goods in the grocery
and kiloliters.
metric system, but the U.S. general public
store gradually go metric. Airline frequent
The metric system makes good sense.
is slow to change. Most U.S. science
flyer miles may become frequent flyer
The conversion from the U.S. Customary
andschooled in metrics.
kilometers and gallons of fuel may beSystem to metrics, however, is difficult
Nonetheless, from the generaling the
come liters.
for
the
general
public.
The
most
obvious
U.S. Customary System, a variation of the
As one of only three countries worldsimplicity
of
the
metric
system
is
its
muloriginal British Imperial System, is that
wide yet to convert entirely to the metric
system, the United States stands to lose,
Metric Countries
according to the New Statesman (July
12, 1999). The failure of the Mars orbiter
only demonstrates how difficult it is for
the United States to operate with two
different systems of weights and measures. Seldom does the cost of an error
USA
reach $125 million, but the combined
total trade cost to the United States of
having two systems may reach a similar
Burma
astronomical sum.
Liberia
And that is Geography in the News.
METRIC SPACE
Countries not
adopting metric
system
Source: Stephen, A. New Statesman, July 12, 1999
Geography in the News (12/10/99)
©1999 maps.com
 1999 Reproduced from subscribing newspapers
(The author is a Geography Professor
at Appalachian State University, Boone,
NC) #497