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Earth: Our Home: Geography Elective

This chapter discusses techniques for reading and interpreting maps and photographs. It covers topics such as using grid references and compass points to specify locations, measuring distances, representing heights with contours and spot heights, interpreting symbols and human activities, and sketching photographs. The document provides instructions on basic skills for interpreting maps and aerial photographs.

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Vernon
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427 views

Earth: Our Home: Geography Elective

This chapter discusses techniques for reading and interpreting maps and photographs. It covers topics such as using grid references and compass points to specify locations, measuring distances, representing heights with contours and spot heights, interpreting symbols and human activities, and sketching photographs. The document provides instructions on basic skills for interpreting maps and aerial photographs.

Uploaded by

Vernon
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Earth: Our Home

Geography Elective

CHAPTER 2
Map Reading and Basic
Techniques

Chapter 3: Plate Tectonics


You will learn…
- to read and interpret topographical maps
- to read and interpret photographs
Understanding Our
Environment
 Map reading
- interpreting symbols
- specifying locations
- determining directions
- measuring distances
- representing heights
 Interpreting photographs
- types of photographs
- sketching a photograph
Interpreting symbols
- Symbols on a map represent the actual features

on the Earth’s surface.


- The symbols can be classified into five types.
Specifying locations
• Grid references
- grid references are used to help us describe
the location of a feature on a topographical
map

- the vertical lines are called Eastings and the


horizontal lines are called Northings
Four-figure grid references
Six-figure grid references
Determining directions
• To describe the location of one place from
another, we need to be able to tell directions on
a map.
• The points on a compass and bearings help us
to do so.
Compass points
• There are four main points on a compass :
north(N), south(S), east(E) and west(W).

• They are also known as cardinal points.


North Points
• On most topographical maps, three north points
are indicated.
• They are True North, Magnetic North and Grid
North.
Bearings
Measuring Distances
• Scale
- the ratio of a distance on a map to the
actual distance on the Earth’s surface.
• Three ways to represent a scale on a map :
- as a statement in words
- as a representative fraction
- as a line of linear scale
Straight-line distances
• We can measure the straight-line distances between
two points on a map with a ruler.
Curved distances
• We can measure curved distances by using a piece
of string or a piece of paper.
Representing Heights
• A spot height indicates the specific height of a point
on a map.

• A bench mark is a surveyor’s mark cut in some


durable material such as a rock or a building.

• A Trigonometrical station is a circular metallic disc


placed in the ground to show specific height.
Contours
• Contours are imaginary lines joining places
of the same height above sea level.
Gradient
• Gradient is the slope of a feature such as a
road, railway or river.

• Gradient is usually expressed as a ratio,


between the vertical rise in distance and the
horizontal distance.

• Question: What is the formula for calculating


gradient?
Calculating gradient
Interpreting cross-sections
• A cross-section shows the profile of the relief of the land
along a specific line drawn across a map.

• Cross-sections only allow us to identify features from


one point to another.

• In addition to using cross-sections, we need to divide a


map into broad areas of differing relief.
A region depicted on a
Topographical map
.
Interpreting human activites
• Settlement patterns
- dispersed settlements
- nucleated settlements

• Transport patterns
Basic Techniques
• Interpreting photographs
• Steps to interprete a photograph
• Sketching a photgraph
Types of photographs
• The three main types of photographs are landscape,
aerial and satellite images.
Photographs
• Interprete this photograph
Sketching a photograph
• Place a piece of tracing paper over the photograph
to be sketched.

• Trace the major lines in the photograph. For example


the skyline or horizon, roads,buildings and other
major features. Details need not be included.

• Identify and label the main features in a sketch.

• Give your sketch a title.

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