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Map Reading

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35 views5 pages

Map Reading

Uploaded by

kutlolaba
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHARACTERISTICS OF A MAP

1.TITLE
Tells what a given map is about.
2. KEY/ LEGEND
Helps interpret symbol s used in a map.
3. SCALE
Shows relationship between map distance & ground distance
Types of scale
-Statement: scale in words eg one centimeter represents ten kilometers.
-Linear: a line, usually drawn at the bottom of a map showing how distance is represented on the map.
-Representative fraction/ ratio scale
Scale given in form of fraction or ratio e.g. 1/20 000or 1:20 000.These are in the same units(cm) i.e 1cm on the
map represents 20 000cm on the ground.
RF= map distance/ground distance
Calculating area of irregular shape
-Trace the outline of the feature on tracing paper
-Transfer the outline onto a graph paper.
-Count the number of whole squares
- Count the number of part squares & divide by 2
-Add the number of whole squares & that of part squares divided by 2
-Then use the scale to calculate the area of 1 square. Usually 1 square represents 1km², so the total area will be in
km².
4. DIRECTION
Used to locate places on a map. It can be given in compass directions or grid bearings are used.
Compass directions: there are 4 main cardinal points which are north, south, east, west. These can be further
subdivided into an eight-point compass(SE, NE,SW,NW), which can be further subdivided into 16 point compass.
Diagram:

Bearings: giving direction in degrees. Angles are measured in a clockwise direction from the northline.
Its important to remember that bearings are written as 3 figures e.g 032˚.
How to measure bearings
-Identify the 2 places on a map.
-Draw a line joining the 2 places.
-Draw another line pointing north through the point from which the bearing is measured (northline) such that
there’s an angle between 2 places.
-To measure the angle, use the northline to place the protractor, with its centre at the point from which you are
measuring.
-Measure the angle in a clockwise direction from the north to the line joining the 2 places.
GRID REFERENCE
Eastings: vertical grid lines which increase in value eastwards.
Northings: horizontal grid lines which increase in value northwards.
4 figure grid reference(grid square)
The first 2 numbers are eastings & the last 2 are northings. It’s a quick & easy way of identifying a square within
which a certain feature/ place can be found. However, it is less accurate.
6 figure grid reference
Its more accurate & refers to a specific point within a square in a map.
Procedure:
-Write the number of easting
-Use a ruler to measure smaller divisions(tenths) between the easting & the place being located.
-Write the northing
- -Use a ruler to measure smaller divisions(tenths) between the northing & the place being located.
-Write the location of the feature starting with eastings.

LATITUDES & LONGITUDES


These are imaginary lines drawn on a map & are given in degrees. 1 degree =60 minutes. They are used to locate all
places of the world.
LATITUDE LINES
These are horizontal lines drawn on a map measuring how far north or south a place is from the Equator. Their
values increase northwards or southwards from the equator.
LONGITUDE LINES
Vertical lines drawn on a map measuring how far east or west a place is from the Greenwich/prime meridian. Their
values increase eastwards or westwards from the Prime meridian.
NB: when locating places using latitudes & longitudes, always start with longitudes.

CALCULATING TIME
Longitude lines are used to calculate time.
Earth rotation: the earth makes a complete rotation of 360˚ in 24hrs
15˚ in 1hr
1˚ in 4 minutes
This rotation (west to east) results in days & nights. Places that are East of Greenwich meridian are ahead of
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) & have their sunrise before Greenwich (see the sun earlier), therefore gain time.
Areas west of Greenwich meridian are behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) & have their sunrise after Greenwich
(see the sun later), therefore lose time.
Local time: refers to the time of a place at a local meridian.
If the place is East, add time
If West, subtract time.
Example:
A game is scheduled for 16 November 2009 at 1600hrs, longitude 75˚W. Indians at longitude 30˚E wish to watch it
live on television. At what time should the Indian tv broadcast the game?
Calculating a meridian when given local time
Example:
The local time at Satau is 1800hrs. If GMT is 1300hrs, calculate the meridian for Satau

RELIEF
-This is the shape of the land.

Ways of showing relief on maps


1. Contour lines
-These are lines drawn on a map joining places of the same height above sea level.
Vertical interval- the difference between 2 successive contour lines.
e.g

V.I =20m V.I= 50m


Contours are also used to show the shape of land e.g hill, depression, valleys. The units are always metres.
Ref: Helliwell.
2. Spot height
-shown as a black dot followed by a number which represents the height of land.
E.g 1026, so the height is 1026m
3. Trigonometrical station
-These are shown on maps in form of triangles or circles with dots in their centres.
-They are used to show the actual height of hills where contours cant be drawn
E.g

The height of the above hill is 369m.


V.I= 100m
GRADIENT
-this is the steepness of slope between 2 points.
-it is given as a ratio e.g 1 in 5 or 1: 5
This means for every 5 units of horizontal distance on the ground there is a rise of 1 unit.
Calculation of gradient
1. Measure the horizontal distance(HD) i.e the distance between the places on the ground.
* Measure the map distance between the 2 places then use the scale to convert to actual distance on the ground.
2. Calculate the vertical difference(VD) between the 2 places.
This is the difference in height between the 2 places using either contours, trigonometrical stations or spot heights
3. Convert the measurements into the same units (metres)
4. Substitute these into the formula
G= VD/HD
5. Express the gradient as a ratio.
Example: Calculate the gradient between Tonota(1200m above sea level) & Senete(700m above sea level). Map
distance is 5cm, scale 1cm to 1km

VD= 1200-700= 500m

HD= 5x1=5km
5km= 5x 1000= 5000m

G=500/5000

= 1 in 10

Human activities on Topographic maps


A. Cultivation
-Found on gentle slopes (contours widely spaced)
-near rivers
-at the foot of hills
-near dams/big rivers for irrigation
-along rivers for alluvial soils

B. Pastoralism
Evidence on maps:
-dip tanks
-cattle pens
-cattle corridors
-veterinary offices
-ranches

C. Settlement
Mostly found at the following places:
-along for water & fertile alluvial soils
-along transport routes e.g road, railway lines
-foot of hills
-on top of flat hills for defence e.g Kanye
-at road junctions/ crossroads e.g Palapye
-gentle slopes

D. Mining
Evidence on maps
-quarry
-prospective trenches
-name of mine

Services provided by an area


-education
-health
-sanitation
-power supply
-water supply
-postal service/ communication
-security
-administration
-entertainment/ recreation
-shopping
-transport

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