Geographical Skills
To read a map you need to understand compass directions, grid references and the map's key and scale. You need to be able to find features when given a map reference. You also need to be able to describe a feature's location on a map by giving a map reference.
Basics of mapping: 1Maps are representations of the world created by people called cartographersto help other people navigate the world. Maps contain information tailored to a specific purpose.
Compass directions are vital for finding your way around a map.
Grid references
OS maps are divided into numbered squares. These squares can be used to give a place a four or six-figure grid reference. It is important that you know both four-figure and six-figure grid references.
Eastings
Eastings are lines that run up and down the map. They increase in number the further you move east (or right). You can use them to measure how far to travel east.
Northings
Northings are lines that run across the map horizontally. They increase in number the further you move north (or up the map). You can use them to measure how far to travel north.
Remember:
Basics of mapping: 1Maps are representations of the world created by people called cartographersto help other people navigate the world. Maps contain information tailored to a specific purpose.
- A road map, for example, contains information that helps the reader get from one place to another using a vehicle.
- The maps found in a geographical atlas will contain information of less interest to a road user, such as how the land in a place is used, the population density and the political boundaries that exist between regions, states and nations.
- compass directions
- grid references
- map's key
- title
- scale
Compass directions are vital for finding your way around a map.
Grid references
OS maps are divided into numbered squares. These squares can be used to give a place a four or six-figure grid reference. It is important that you know both four-figure and six-figure grid references.
Eastings
Eastings are lines that run up and down the map. They increase in number the further you move east (or right). You can use them to measure how far to travel east.
Northings
Northings are lines that run across the map horizontally. They increase in number the further you move north (or up the map). You can use them to measure how far to travel north.
Remember:
- numbers along the bottom of the map come first and the numbers up the side of the map come second
- the four-figure reference 2083 refers to the square to the east of Easting line 20 and north of Northing line 83
- the six-figure reference 207834 will give you the exact point in the square2083 - 7/10s of the way across and 4/10s of the way up
Basics of mapping: 2
Key
Just like a key to a door, the key on a map helps you to unlock the information stored in the colours and symbols on a map. You must understand how the key relates to the map before you can unlock the information it contains. The key will help you to identify types of boundaries, roads, buildings, agriculture, industry, places of interest and geographical features.
Key
Just like a key to a door, the key on a map helps you to unlock the information stored in the colours and symbols on a map. You must understand how the key relates to the map before you can unlock the information it contains. The key will help you to identify types of boundaries, roads, buildings, agriculture, industry, places of interest and geographical features.
TitleMake sure you read the title of a map before you start to use it. This will give you a general idea about the information it stores. While it may appear a straightforward thing to do, under exam conditions, it is easy to confuse different maps or not use the one that is most useful.
Scale
Map scale
The scale of a map allows a reader to calculate the size, height and dimensions of the features shown on the map, as well as distances between different points. The scale on a map is the ratio between real life sizes and how many times it has been shrunk to fit it on the map.
The scale below is for a 1:50,000 scale map. At this scale, 1 cm on the map represents 50,000 cm on the ground (= 500 m or 0.5 km).
Ordnance Survey maps, the most common type of map in the UK, come in several scales.
Ordnance Survey maps
You will be asked to interpret maps to find out specific information. Being able to distinguish between different types of land use on an Ordnance Survey (OS) map will help you interpret maps during your exams. Here are some things you should brush up on:
Scale
Map scale
The scale of a map allows a reader to calculate the size, height and dimensions of the features shown on the map, as well as distances between different points. The scale on a map is the ratio between real life sizes and how many times it has been shrunk to fit it on the map.
The scale below is for a 1:50,000 scale map. At this scale, 1 cm on the map represents 50,000 cm on the ground (= 500 m or 0.5 km).
Ordnance Survey maps, the most common type of map in the UK, come in several scales.
- Travel maps have a scale of 1:125,000. This means 1 cm on the map represents 125,000 in the real world or 1 cm = 1.25 km. These are used by drivers going long distances.
- Landranger maps are 1:50,000 (1 cm = 500 m). These are useful for drivers going shorter distances.
- Explorer maps are 1:25,000 (1 cm = 250 m). These are useful for walking and other outdoor pursuits.
- Landplan maps are 1:10,000 (1 cm = 100 m). These show individual streets clearly and might be used by town planners.
Ordnance Survey maps
You will be asked to interpret maps to find out specific information. Being able to distinguish between different types of land use on an Ordnance Survey (OS) map will help you interpret maps during your exams. Here are some things you should brush up on:
- Make sure you can tell the difference between urban and rural land use. Start by looking at the key. Are the features in the key related to the countryside or to towns?
- Look out for features of the urban landscape that are represented in symbols on the OS map. Start by looking at modes of transport (eg junctions of main roads, railways, ports and airports).
- Look for rural features. Study the key carefully to see what different areas of shading on the map represent. For example, different types of farmland will be shaded differently.
- Study the relief of the land on your OS map by looking for the contour lines. Contours will show you where the hills (elevations) and valleys (depressions) are on the map. Contours will often show changes in height of 5 or 10 metres. The closer the contours are together the steeper the slope is. If the contours are far apart, you might be looking at a flat flood plain. On the map below the contours in square 1981 are quite close together - indicating a fairly steep gradient.
Exam tips
Make sure that you know how to interpret different types of map. Read keys and grid references carefully.
When drawing maps be sure to include the following:
Often the best way to represent numerical data is in a graph. This makes it easy to read, digest, compare and spot trends. Different types of graph are used to present different types of statistical information.
Graphs 1: line graphsDifferent types of graph are used to represent statistical data. The most common types are line graphs, bar graphs and pie charts.
Most graphs have two axes: the X axis is horizontal (across the bottom) while the Y axis is vertical (up the left side). The two axes each represent a different set of data. Line graphs are drawn by plotting points by their X and Y coordinates, then joining them together or drawing a line through the middle.
The line graph below shows how energy consumption is expected to rise, while consumption of fossil fuels falls and the demand for renewable energy increases.
Graph showing demand for energy
Make sure that you know how to interpret different types of map. Read keys and grid references carefully.
When drawing maps be sure to include the following:
- a title - stating what the map shows (eg land use or vegetation cover)
- a key - so the reader knows what the symbols on the map represent
- compass points - showing which way is up (North)
- a scale - so the reader can translate distances shown on the map into distances on the ground
Often the best way to represent numerical data is in a graph. This makes it easy to read, digest, compare and spot trends. Different types of graph are used to present different types of statistical information.
Graphs 1: line graphsDifferent types of graph are used to represent statistical data. The most common types are line graphs, bar graphs and pie charts.
Most graphs have two axes: the X axis is horizontal (across the bottom) while the Y axis is vertical (up the left side). The two axes each represent a different set of data. Line graphs are drawn by plotting points by their X and Y coordinates, then joining them together or drawing a line through the middle.
The line graph below shows how energy consumption is expected to rise, while consumption of fossil fuels falls and the demand for renewable energy increases.
Graph showing demand for energy
Types of line graph
Comparison
Sometimes different sets of data will be represented on the same line graph, so comparisons can be made. This is sometimes called a comparison line graph.
Compound
If information can be subdivided into two (or more) types of data - eg total population growth, female population growth and male population growth - then all three can be drawn on a compound line graph.
Scatter
Where the points on a graph do not map into a neat line, a line is drawn through the middle of the points to show the trend or correlation. This is called a scatter graph.
Graphs 2: pie chartsPie charts are used for showing how something breaks down into its constituent parts.
Comparison
Sometimes different sets of data will be represented on the same line graph, so comparisons can be made. This is sometimes called a comparison line graph.
Compound
If information can be subdivided into two (or more) types of data - eg total population growth, female population growth and male population growth - then all three can be drawn on a compound line graph.
Scatter
Where the points on a graph do not map into a neat line, a line is drawn through the middle of the points to show the trend or correlation. This is called a scatter graph.
Graphs 2: pie chartsPie charts are used for showing how something breaks down into its constituent parts.
- Pie charts are usually drawn so the biggest piece of pie comes first (starting at 12 o'clock).
- The 'others' section usually goes last (coming up to 12 o'clock).
- If each piece of pie has its percentage written in, it's easier for the reader to work out the exact proportions.
In this example the circles are the same size. It would also have been possible to make the size of the circle proportional to the size of each country's labour market. Pie charts like this are sometimes called proportional circles
Graphs 3: bar chartsBar charts or bar graphs represent data as vertical blocks or columns.
The X axis shows what type of data each column represents, and the Y axis shows a value for that type of data. For example, in a rainfall graph, each column on the X axis represents a month of the year, with the height of each column on the Y axis showing the amount of rainfall in that month.
Types of bar chartCompoundIt is possible to split each column into sections to show the breakdown of data. For example, the employment data shown on the previous page could have been represented as three columns on a bar chart. The three columns would represent the three countries, with each column subdivided into sections showing primary, secondary and tertiary in different colours. This type of bar chart is sometimes called a compound bar chart.
ComparativeIt is also possible to compare two sets of data on a bar chart - for example, measuring rainfall in two countries over the same period. This type of bar graph is called a comparative bar graph.
The chart below compares the tourism data for the UK in October 2001 with October the previous year. The graph shows how tourism declined after the terrorist attack in America in September 2001.
Graphs 3: bar chartsBar charts or bar graphs represent data as vertical blocks or columns.
The X axis shows what type of data each column represents, and the Y axis shows a value for that type of data. For example, in a rainfall graph, each column on the X axis represents a month of the year, with the height of each column on the Y axis showing the amount of rainfall in that month.
Types of bar chartCompoundIt is possible to split each column into sections to show the breakdown of data. For example, the employment data shown on the previous page could have been represented as three columns on a bar chart. The three columns would represent the three countries, with each column subdivided into sections showing primary, secondary and tertiary in different colours. This type of bar chart is sometimes called a compound bar chart.
ComparativeIt is also possible to compare two sets of data on a bar chart - for example, measuring rainfall in two countries over the same period. This type of bar graph is called a comparative bar graph.
The chart below compares the tourism data for the UK in October 2001 with October the previous year. The graph shows how tourism declined after the terrorist attack in America in September 2001.
Climate graphs
Climate graphs are a combination of a bar graph and a line graph. Temperature is shown on a line graph, with the figures being shown on the right side of the graph. Rainfall is shown by a bar graph, with the figures being shown down the left side of the graph.
Climate graphThe climate graph below shows average annual rainfall and temperature throughout the year for a particular area.
Climate graphs are a combination of a bar graph and a line graph. Temperature is shown on a line graph, with the figures being shown on the right side of the graph. Rainfall is shown by a bar graph, with the figures being shown down the left side of the graph.
Climate graphThe climate graph below shows average annual rainfall and temperature throughout the year for a particular area.
Interpreting climate graphsIn the exam you may be asked to look at the information in a graph and describe the area's climate.
- Look for patterns in the temperature data
- Is the temperature the same all year round? If it is different, how many seasons does the location experience?
- Which season is the warmest? Is it warm (10 to 20°C), hot (20 to 30°C) or very hot (above 30°C)?
- Which season is the coolest? Is it mild (0 to 10°C), cold (-10 to 0°C) or very cold (below -10°C)?
- What is the range of temperature? (Subtract the minimum temperature from the maximum temperature).
- Look for patterns in the rainfall data
- Does the rainfall occur all year round?
- What is the pattern of the rainfall? Check which season(s) is/are drier or wetter than others.
- What is the total annual rainfall? Add each month's total together to get the annual total.
- Then put the rainfall and temperature information together - what does it tell you about this area?
- Describe the patterns in temperature and rainfall, including how they relate to each other. You now have a description of the climate.
- Now look again at the climate graph above. What can you deduce about the climate?