Geographical Skills Cheat Sheet
by Phoebe Zhang (Phoebe12) via [Link]/30133/cs/14938/
Spatial distribution and association Thematic maps (cont) Latitude and longitude
The most common patterns formed are known Choropleth maps use different shades of the Lines that run from east to west are referred to
as linear, scattered and clustered. same colour to give a quick impression of the as latitude and lines that run from north to
data being shown. Darker shades show the south are called longitude.
Linear distribution: eg. lined along the coast
highest values while lighter shades show the
The equator is 0o and the lines are numbered
Scattered distribution: eg. central Australia
lowest values or least amounts.
according to their distance north and south of
Clustered distribution: eg. large urban Flow maps this line.
settlements
Flow maps show movement from one place to The Tropic of Cancer is located at 23o 30'N
Geographers also compare the distribution another. These maps are useful for showing and the Tropic of Capricorn is located at 23 o
patterns of geographical features and look for the movement of goods, migration of people 30'S.
connections between them. and animals, and transport and
The Arctic Circle is located at 66o 30'N and the
communications. Often the number of people or
Antarctic Circle at 66 o 30'S.
Thematic maps goods is shown by using lines of different
widths or colours. The lines of longitude are called meridians.
Environment maps
Isoline maps Each degree is further divided into 60 minutes
Environment maps show the natural features of
Isoline maps use lines to join places of equal to make measurement even more accurate.
the Earth such as land cover, mountains, rivers,
deserts, lakes, seas and oceans. They also value for a given feature: In 1884 the Royal Geographical Society met in
show urban areas and cropland. isobars = air isohyets = rainfall Greenwich, London and established a common
pressure system, with 0 o longitude (Prime Meridian)
Physical maps
centred on Greenwich.
Physical maps show the natural features of the isotherms = contours = height above
Earth such as mountains, rivers, deserts, lakes, temperature sea level
The meridians of longitude meet at 180o,
seas and oceans. They also show the height of isobaths = depth below see level
which is the International Date Line.
the land and depth of the sea by using different
colours. Grid references
Topographic mapping
Cadastral maps
The vertical lines are called eastings and are
Contour lines (or isolines) are lines that join
Political maps show the human features of the numbered towards the east. The horizontal
together points of equal height above sea level.
Earth such as country, state and territory lines are called northings and are numbered
borders, cities and towns. towards the north. The height between contour lines is called the
contour interval.
Dot distribution maps In defining a 6-figure grid reference, the first
three digits refer to the eastings and the last When contours are close together, this
Dot distribution maps use dots to represent a
three digits to the northings. indicates that the land is steep. When they are
single feature. The dots show the location of the
far apart, this means the land is flatter.
chosen features, are the size and colours of the The first two digits refer to the numbers on the
dots can show different characteristics of that grid lines; the third digit is obtained by dividing Cross-sections can be constructed across
feature. When combined on a map, the dots the grid square into tenths. contour lines revealing the shape of the land in
form a spatial pattern. profile.
Eastings are always stated before the
Synoptic charts Round hill or volcano: concentric rings
northings. The six digits are given without any
Weather maps show conditions in the spaces, commas or full stops. Valley: sets of contour lines converging
atmostphere such as air pressure, wind speed
Ridge: oval-like contour lines
and wind direction. They also show the size
Spur: sharp and obtrusive contour lines
and location of warm and cold fronts.
Choropleth maps Cliff: sudden close contour lines
Plateau: no contour lines near centre
By Phoebe Zhang (Phoebe12) Published 1st March, 2018. Sponsored by [Link]
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Geographical Skills Cheat Sheet
by Phoebe Zhang (Phoebe12) via [Link]/30133/cs/14938/
Key Concepts Mapping skills Direction and bearings (cont)
Environment: the product of physical A map is a graphic representation of a part of Grid north: is the direction of the vertical lines
processes such as geological, atmospheric, the earth's surface, drawn to scale. on a topographic map.
hydrological, geomorphic, biotic processes as BOLTSSAN: Compass bearings can also be used to state
well as human influences.
Border Scale the direction of one place from another. They
Change: any alteration to the natural or human are calculated by measuring the angle, from the
Orientation Source north, between the two points.
aspects of places and environments over time
and space (long term and short term). Legend Accuracy The bearing is calculated from a straight line
Interconnection: the way that people and/or Title Neatness constructed from the point of reference towards
geographical phenomena are connected to north, read in a clockwise direction. Due north
each other through natural processes and is zero degrees.
STEEPH (SHEEP) factors
human activities. Direction should be expressed in lower case
Social: population size, dynamics, education,
Sustainability : human activities being unless part of a proper noun. It can be
health, living conditions, crime, cultural,
managed in a way that ensure an environment abbreviated to capitals in geographic media or
language, religion, workforce, ethnicity, class
can be maintained in the long term. when stating latitude and longitude, but should
and gender.
be expressed in complete form in text.
Technological: technology, skills, crafts and
Gross National Product
knowledge. Defining location
noun: the total value of goods produced and
Economic : wealth, profits, employment,
services provided by a country during one year, Absolute location can be given as grid
investment, exports, trade balances, debt,
equal to the gross domestic product plus the reference coordinates, in latitude and longitude
taxes, currency, exchange rates, inflation,
net income from foreign investments. or as an address.
Gross National Product, wages and the costs of
commodities and services. More commonly, location is expressed as a
Scale relative location from another feature such as a
Environmental: urban spaces, transport
capital, the CBD or the nearest post office, or
There are four ways of stating scale: facilities, infrastructure, biosphere,
adjoining countries, seas or oceans, or the
Scale statement, eg. one centimetre atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, climate,
direction within a general region.
represents 100,000 cm or 1 km. rocks, minerals, soil, air, landforms, flora and
To describe the location of a place accurately it
fauna.
Representative fraction/ratio, eg: 1/100 000 is good to use a combination of these methods.
or 1:100 000 Political: laws, policies, regulations, tariffs,
taxes, zoning, government controls, treaties
Linear/Line scale Distribution vocabulary
and trade embargoes.
Local scale - i.e. a local park, suburb, town or clustered linear dispersed
Historical: those factors which may not be
rural area
operating today, but have occured in the past rows random parallel
Regional scale - i.e. a larger geographical and have left a lasting impact. grid trellised radial
area
dendritic nucleated dense
National scale - i.e. a single country Direction and bearings
sparse concentrated predominantly
International scale - i.e. two or more countries North, south, east and west are called the
around the world cardinal points. The points that give us a more
specific indication of direction are the
Global scale - i.e. the entire planet
intermediate/sub-cardinal points.
True north: is the direction towards the earth's
geographic North Pole.
Magnetic north: is the direction in which the
magnetic compass needle points.
By Phoebe Zhang (Phoebe12) Published 1st March, 2018. Sponsored by [Link]
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