Geography Mapwork Notes
Topic 1: Geographical Skills and Techniques
Unit 1: Mapwork Techniques and Topographic Maps
Coordinates:
• Latitude = west to east
• Longitude = north to south
• Lines of latitude stated first (N/S) then longitude (E/W)
• Alphanumeric grid referencing = using blocks on a map to locate approximate positions of
features
Direction and Bearing:
Direction:
• 16 points on a compass used to describe direction
• Main points: N, E, S and W
Bearing:
• More accurate than compass points
• Measured clockwise from north
• True bearing: the angle between a line on the ground (or on a map) and the direction to
the true north pole.
• Magnetic bearing: the angle measurement between an observer, an object and magnetic
north.
o Measure the true bearing and add magnetic declination
• Magnetic declination: the angle between magnetic north and true north
o Stated on the map
• True north pole: the most northerly point on Earth
• Magnetic north pole: the point on Earth towards which magnetic compasses point
Scale:
Map scale – indicates what a distance on a map represents in reality.
E.g. 1:50 000 scale = 1cm on the map = 50 000cms (500m) on the ground
Types of scales:
1. Ratio scale e.g. 1:50 000
2. Word statement e.g. 1cm on the map = 500m on the ground
3. Line scale (given in a diagram)
Area:
1. Draw squares over irregular shape
2. Calculate area of full squares and estimate remaining incomplete squares
• Convert square meters to hectares by dividing by 10 000 (1ha = 100m x 100m)
Contours and Landforms:
Topic 1: Geographical Skills and Techniques
Unit 1: Mapwork Techniques and Topographic Maps
Coordinates:
• Latitude = west to east
• Longitude = north to south
• Lines of latitude stated first (N/S) then longitude (E/W)
• Alphanumeric grid referencing = using blocks on a map to locate approximate positions of
features
Direction and Bearing:
Direction:
• 16 points on a compass used to describe direction
• Main points: N, E, S and W
Bearing:
• More accurate than compass points
• Measured clockwise from north
• True bearing: the angle between a line on the ground (or on a map) and the direction to
the true north pole.
• Magnetic bearing: the angle measurement between an observer, an object and magnetic
north.
o Measure the true bearing and add magnetic declination
• Magnetic declination: the angle between magnetic north and true north
o Stated on the map
• True north pole: the most northerly point on Earth
• Magnetic north pole: the point on Earth towards which magnetic compasses point
Scale:
Map scale – indicates what a distance on a map represents in reality.
E.g. 1:50 000 scale = 1cm on the map = 50 000cms (500m) on the ground
Types of scales:
1. Ratio scale e.g. 1:50 000
2. Word statement e.g. 1cm on the map = 500m on the ground
3. Line scale (given in a diagram)
Area:
1. Draw squares over irregular shape
2. Calculate area of full squares and estimate remaining incomplete squares
• Convert square meters to hectares by dividing by 10 000 (1ha = 100m x 100m)
Contours and Landforms:
