Cartographic Skills

Question 1

How can you measure the relief?

Answer 1

Measure the gradient - Use terms like flat, steeply sloping and undulating.

Question 2

How do you find the grid reference?

Answer 2

Along the x axis

Along the y axis

Question 3

What do contour lines show?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

How are the contour lines arranged in a steep slope?

Answer 4

Close together

Question 5

How are the contour lines arranged in a gentle slope?

Answer 5

Far apart

Question 6

What are spot heights?

Answer 6

Black spot with the height in metres printed next to it

Question 7

What is a ridge?

Answer 7

A series of hills which make a line of high grond

Question 8

What is a gentle slope?

Answer 8

Where the land slowly decreases in height

Question 9

What is a valley?

Answer 9

A narrow bottom with sides sloping upwards

The ‘V’ closed end of the contour lines always point toward higher ground

Question 10

What is a spur?

Answer 10

A long, gently-sloping area of ground that runs down from a hill - sometimes called the ‘tounge’

Question 11

What is a Plateau?

Answer 11

An area of flat land on top of a hill

Question 12

What is a saddle?

Answer 12

A dip or lower point of a land on a ridge

Question 13

What do cross sections show?

Answer 13

Shows the variations in relief of the land

Question 14

How do you draw a cross section?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What does a sketch map show?

Answer 15

Simplify what is shown on published maps by only showing the features that are of interest

Question 16

How can you draw a sketch map?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What are the 4 things you may be asked to describe?

Answer 17

Site
Situation
Shape
Land use

Question 18

What is the site?

Answer 18

The physical characteristics of the land upon which a settlement lies - include references to relief, drainage, vegetation

Question 19

What is the situation?

Answer 19

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?

Question 20

What is the shape?

Answer 20

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?

Question 21

What is the land use?

Answer 21

How the land is being used

Refer to the main land use in the OS map. Land uses could include residential, industrial, agricultural etc

Question 22

What is a nucleated settlement pattern?

Answer 22

Where are a lot of buildings are grouped together and is often found in lowland areas

Question 23

What is a linear settlement pattern?

Answer 23

Where the buildings are built in lines and is often found on steep hillsides

Question 24

What is a dispersed settlement pattern?

Answer 24

Where the buildings are spread out and is often found in upland areas

Question 25

In which direction to latitude circle the earth?

Answer 25

In an east-west direction. They are parallel to the equator

Question 26

In which direction do longitude run?

Answer 26

From north to south. They are perpendicular to the equator

Question 27

What is a meridians?

Answer 27

Where the lines of latitude meet at a point at the north and south pole

Question 28

How do you find a location using longitude and latitude?

Answer 28

Latitude then longitude