Topographic Maps

Scale Linear Scale Representative Fraction Statement of scale

Scale If 1cm = 2km on a 1:50,000 scale map How many cm is 1km on a 1:25,000 scale map? 4cm Calculate distance Area Help to calculate gradient

Location

Relief describes the lie of the land CONTOURS - Show lines of equal height on a map. LAYER COLOURING SPOT HEIGHTS / TRIANGULATION POINTS

Drawing a cross-section

Gradient Gradient is also known as the slope. Calculate gradient by dividing the difference in elevation between two points by the horizontal distance between the same points.   An easy way to remember this is to think of dividing the "rise" by the "run" (or "rise over run"). Measure elevation difference using the contour lines (high elevation-low elevation) and the horizontal distance using the map scale. Make sure that your measurements are in the same units, or convert them to the same units.

Which is steeper? 1:3 2:10 1:2?

Invisibility

Describe relief by... Height of land Slope of the land Using actual figures taken from contours or spot heights (high & low is meaningless without actual figures) Slope of the land Flat or sloping? What direction do the slopes face? (why significant?) Gentle or steep? Bare cliffs / vegetated? Presence of features? (dry valleys / valleys)

The presence of absence & flow of water. Drainage... The presence of absence & flow of water. Describing drainage... Presence of rivers Direction of flow Dense network of rivers? Single of multi-channelled? Add names / distances / heights / directions to answers

Underground drainage: Patterns of rivers: Springs / wells Patterns of rivers:

The influence of people Canals Embankments Artificial lakes (dams)

Photographs

When producing a sketch... Draw in pencil / label in pen Draw frame to scale (for map) Lightly add guidelines Add title / north arrow / scale Sketch in coastline (if applicable) Label / annotate information

Rural / Urban Settlements... Functions of a settlement?

Settlements Site Situation The actual location of a settlement. For example; Toulouse is at Latitude 43,38 ° N, Longitude 1,22 ° E, approximately 580 km south from Paris. Situation The location of a settlement in relation to places (human and physical) surrounding it. For example; Toulouse is a city in southwest France on the banks of the Garonne River, half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Location Factors Wet-Point Site Dry-Point Site Building Materials Defence Fuel Supply Food Supplies Nodal Point Bridging Point Shelter Aspect

Settlement patterns...