Cartographic Skills Flashcards

All 26 cards in this deck

What is latitude?

Imaginary lines running parallel to the Equator, measured in degrees north or south of the Equator.

What is longitude?

Imaginary lines running from the North Pole to the South Pole, measured in degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian.

True or false? When giving coordinates, longitude is stated before latitude.

False. Latitude is given first, then longitude, e.g. 51°N, 1°W.

What is a thematic map?

A map that displays information or patterns about one particular theme or variable, e.g. population density or income.

What are the steps to describe a distribution shown on an atlas map?

e.g. wildfires across Brazil

1. Give the overall pattern.
   e.g. concentrated in central Brazil
2. Add a direction or named place.
   e.g. south of the Amazon river / north of Brasília
3. Note any exception.
   e.g. relatively few in coastal areas

What is the map scale on a map?

The ratio of a distance on the map to the actual distance on the ground, e.g. 1:50 000.

On an OS map, what are eastings and northings?

Eastings are the vertical grid lines, increasing in value eastwards; northings are the horizontal grid lines, increasing in value northwards.

What are the steps to give a four-figure grid reference?

e.g. a square whose bottom-left corner is easting 09, northing 28

1. Read the easting of the bottom-left corner of the square: 09
2. Read the northing of the bottom-left corner: 28
3. Write easting then northing: 0928

What are the steps to give a six-figure grid reference?

e.g. a point 8 tenths across and 2 tenths up in square 0928

1. Take the four-figure reference: 09 and 28
2. Add tenths across the square to the easting: 098
3. Add tenths up the square to the northing: 282, giving 098282

How do you measure a curved distance, such as a road, on an OS map?

e.g. along the A944 between two junctions

1. Lay string or the edge of paper along the curve, marking each bend.
2. Straighten it against the linear scale bar.
3. Read off the ground distance, e.g. 3.8 km

What is a contour line?

A line joining points of equal height above sea level.

What is a spot height on an OS map?

A marked point showing the height of that location in metres above sea level.

True or false? Contour lines that are close together show gently sloping land.

False. Close contours show a steep gradient; contours far apart show gentle slopes.

What is meant by the relief of an area?

The height of the land and the shape/steepness of the land.

What are the steps to draw a cross-section between two points on an OS map?

e.g. from X to Y across a valley

1. Lay paper along the line X–Y and mark where each contour crosses, noting its height.
2. Plot the heights on graph axes of height against distance.
3. Join the points with a smooth line to show the valley shape.

What does a V-shaped valley look like in cross-section?

Steep sides meeting at a narrow valley floor, with a river at the lowest point.

Give two features on an OS map that are evidence a coastline is being eroded.

Any two of: steep cliffs, a wave-cut platform, caves and arches, stacks and stumps.

Give two features on an OS map or photograph that show an upland area was glaciated.

Any two of: a ribbon lake, a steep-sided, flat-floored U-shaped valley (glacial trough), a corrie or tarn, an arête.

Give two map symbols that are evidence a settlement is a tourist resort.

Any two of: tourist information centre, camp or caravan site, golf course, visitor attraction.

What is a ground photograph?

A photograph taken from ground level, e.g. with a camera during fieldwork; it needs annotating to show features.

What is the main advantage of an aerial photograph over a ground photograph?

It covers a wider area, so it is useful for showing spatial patterns.

What is the difference between a label and an annotation?

A label just names a feature; an annotation adds detail explaining or interpreting what is shown.

What are the steps to draw a labelled sketch from a photograph?

e.g. a photo of an eroding cliff

1. Draw a frame and the main outlines only, e.g. cliff line, sea and beach.
2. Label the key landforms, e.g. stack, wave-cut platform.
3. Add annotations with geographical detail, e.g. 'steep cliff of soft boulder clay'.

True or false? A 1:25 000 OS map shows a smaller area in more detail than a 1:50 000 OS map.

True. At 1:25 000 features are drawn twice as large, so less ground is covered but with more detail.

Give two kinds of numerical evidence you can quote from an OS map to support a description of an area.

Spot heights or contour values in metres, and distances measured using the scale.
e.g. "the land rises to over 590 metres"

What is the Prime Meridian?

The line of 0 degrees longitude, which passes through Greenwich in London.