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.