Cartographic Skills Flashcards
(28 cards)
How can you measure the relief?
Measure the gradient - Use terms like flat, steeply sloping and undulating.
How do you find the grid reference?
Along the x axis
Along the y axis
What do contour lines show?
The height of the land - they join together places of the same height and form patterns that help us to image what the land actually looks like
How are the contour lines arranged in a steep slope?
Close together
How are the contour lines arranged in a gentle slope?
Far apart
What are spot heights?
Black spot with the height in metres printed next to it
What is a ridge?
A series of hills which make a line of high grond
What is a gentle slope?
Where the land slowly decreases in height
What is a valley?
A narrow bottom with sides sloping upwards
The ‘V’ closed end of the contour lines always point toward higher ground
What is a spur?
A long, gently-sloping area of ground that runs down from a hill - sometimes called the ‘tounge’
What is a Plateau?
An area of flat land on top of a hill
What is a saddle?
A dip or lower point of a land on a ridge
What do cross sections show?
Shows the variations in relief of the land
How do you draw a cross section?
Take a straight piece of paper
Put the edge of the paper along the cross section A-B line and mark the points A and B
Every time the contour lines across the edge of your paper, make a mark
If contour line has a number not this as well
Use piece of paper like the X-axis of a graph
What does a sketch map show?
Simplify what is shown on published maps by only showing the features that are of interest
How can you draw a sketch map?
Draw a box the same as the map area you are using
Sketch in the main relief features: main river, woodland areas, and main routeways
Mark and label the main features you want your map to show
Add a title, north direction, and use colour
What are the 4 things you may be asked to describe?
Site
Situation
Shape
Land use
What is the site?
The physical characteristics of the land upon which a settlement lies - include references to relief, drainage, vegetation
What is the situation?
Where a settlement lies in relation to other features or settlements
Include references to human and physical features - such as does a river, road etc run through it?
What is the shape?
The shape of the settlement
Describe the shape of settlement - not the land upon which the settlement lies - e.g does it follow any particular features such as roads; rivers, valley floors etc?
What is the land use?
How the land is being used
Refer to the main land use in the OS map. Land uses could include residential, industrial, agricultural etc
What is a nucleated settlement pattern?
Where are a lot of buildings are grouped together and is often found in lowland areas
What is a linear settlement pattern?
Where the buildings are built in lines and is often found on steep hillsides
What is a dispersed settlement pattern?
Where the buildings are spread out and is often found in upland areas
