Map – representation of the whole or part of the earth’s surface drawn to scale.
- Shows outline of objects on the ground
- Drawn as if the drawer was above the ground
- It shows details
- Most of the features are indicated by symbols. Picture: image of a real object.
- Gives details in their visible shapes and sizes
- Can be inform of free hand, drawing, painting or a photograph
- Not drawn to scale
Plan: outline of something drawn to scale.
- Also drawn as if a person was directly above the ground
- It represents a very small place
- The scale is large to show details e.g. house plan
- Gives specific information
Types of Maps
Classified according to the purpose for which each map is drawn.
Topographical Maps: This shows selected natural physical features on a small portion of a country.
Atlas maps: this is a collection of maps in one volume.
Sketch maps: maps which are roughly drawn. A good sketch map should have the following characteristics:
- neat and clear
- title
- frame
- key
- compass direction
Uses of Maps
- Sketch maps are used to summarise information for easy reference.
- Used for locating other countries.
- Used for comparing sizes of countries.
- For locating climatic regions of different parts of the world.
- Give information on distribution of geographical phenomena e.g. vegetation on the earth’s surface.
- Help travellers to find their way.
- Used to calculate distance of a certain place.
- Used to locate physical features like landforms.
Marginal Information Information contained in the area surrounding the map.
- Map name e.g. Yimbo.
- Sheet title e.g. East Africa 1:50000 (Kenya).
- grid system numbers
- latitudes and longitudes
- Compass direction with grid, true and magnetic north.
- scales
- key
- publisher and copyright
- Map identification
Map series
Sheet number or sheet index
Map Scales
A scale is a ratio of a distance on a map to a corresponding distance on the ground.
Types of Scales
Statement scale –expressed in words e.g. 1cm represents 1km, 1cm to 1km.
Representative Fraction (RF)-expressed as a fraction or ratio e.g. 1/200,000 or 1:200,000.
Linear scale-shown by a line which is subdivided into smaller units.
Conversion of Scales Statement scale into RF
1cm rep 1km to RF
Multiply the number of kilometres by 100,000 (1km=100,000cm) i.e.
1×100000=100,000.
Statement scale is 1/100,000 or 1:100,000.
2cm rep 1km
Divide both sides by two to get 1cm rep ½ kilometres.
Multiply ½ by 100,000 to get 50,000.
RF is 1/50,000 or 1:50,000.
RF to Statement Scale
Divide the denominator by 100,000.
Write the scale in statement form.
Linear Scale to Statement Scale
- Measure a unit distance off a linear scale e.g.
The distance is 4-3=1km which is represented by 2cm. Use the methods in (1) and (2) above.
- Given that the ground distance is 200km while the distance on map is 20cm calculate the scale.
Sizes of Scales
- Small scales- show a large area of land on a small size of paper. They show limited details e.g. 1:250,000, 1:500,000, 1:1,000,000.
- Medium scales- used to represent a relatively smaller area on a given size of paper e.g. 1:50,000, 1:100,000, 1:125,000.
- Large scales-used to represent a small area of land on a given piece of paper. They show a lot of details e.g. 1:2,500, 1:10,000, 1:25000
Arranging Scales in Order
Ascending Order-smallest to largest
Descending Order-largest to smallest
(1)1/500,000
(3)1:25,000
(4)1/10,000
(2)1cm rep 500m
Uses of Scales
- Estimating distances on maps
- Measuring distances accurately-use dividers and ruler, piece of string or thread for curved distances or straight edge of paper.
E.g. calculate actual distance of a line 8.5cm long on a map using the following scales.
- 2cm rep 1km
- 1:100,000
- Calculation of areas-no. of full grid squares+ number of ½grid squares/2 or use of rectangles (l×b) or triangles (½ b×h).
Direction
Course upon which something is pointing to.
Methods of Showing Direction Traditional Methods
1. Use of Stars
E.g. use of groups of stars called plough to find northern direction by locating the pole star and use of Southern Cross by using the brightest star which is over South Pole to find northern direction.
2. Use of Shadows
E.g. morning, shadow of flag pole cast to your left you are facing north, etc.
- Land Marks
Using conspicuous features such as hills, buildings even roads to get direction.
Modern Methods
1. Land Marks
2. Compass Direction.
Use of magnetic compass which has a needle which always points north.
It has 16 cardinal points and 4 are basic.
Bearing –Expression of direction in degrees of an angle.
It’s measured from north in a clockwise direction.
Calculation of Bearing
Draw N-S line through observation point. Join the two points. If it’s a feature the line should end at the centre of that feature.
Using a protractor measure the angle between the N-S line and the line joining the 2 points in a clockwise direction.
Bearing is expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds. 1◦=60’(min), 1 min=60” (sec)
The degrees are always expressed in 3 figures e.g. 030◦
Types of Norths
- True North
-Position on the globe where all longitudes meet or the direction of N. Pole.
- Grid North
-Point where Eastings meet at the N. Pole.
3. Magnetic North
-Point which the magnetic needle rests when left to swing freely.
Types of Bearing
1. Grid Bearing
Bearing calculated from Grid North.
- Join the two points on the topographical map using a line.
- Measure the angle where the Eastings intersect the line joining the two points e.g. 030◦.
True Bearing
Bearing calculated from True North. Its calculated when the type of bearing isn’t specified.
E.g. from our compass diagram true bearing will be 30◦-1’=29◦59’
Magnetic Bearing
Bearing calculated from Magnetic North.
Position of Magnetic North changes slightly every year.
Steps
- Years which have elapsed × Annual change. (No need if annual change is negligible). E.g. from our compass diagram annual change =(20091991)×4.8’=18×4.8’’=86.4’’=1◦26.4’
- Add to the angle between the grid and magnetic bearing 1.e. 1◦26.4’+2◦30’=3◦56.4’
- Add to the Grid bearing (if change is towards E) or Subtract (if change is towards W). 30◦ +3◦ 56.4’=33◦56.4’ Location of Places
Showing of position of a place or feature on a topographical map.
Methods
Use of Place Names -Locating a feature by using the name of the place it’s at e.g. a river in Kisumu, Nakuru, etc or if it isn’t at a named place locate by the nearest name place e.g. a meander near Garissa town.
Use of Direction, Bearing and Distance This is from a stated position e.g. Locate Nakuru from Nairobi.
Nakuru is 157km N.W of Nairobi.
Latitudes and Longitudes
The main longitudes are I.D.L and Greenwich /Prime Meridian. The main lines of latitudes:
- The equator/Great Circle (0◦) which is the longest.
- Tropic of Cancer (23½◦N) of equator.
- Tropic of Capricorn (23½◦) south of equator.
- The Arctic Circle (66½◦N).
- Antarctic Circle (66 ½ ◦ S).
They are marked at the margins. Latitude is stated first (N or S) and longitude later (E or W) e.g. X◦N Y◦E
- Identify a place.
- Identify the nearest numbered latitude and longitude.
- Estimate to the nearest 1◦.
Grid Reference
Grid lines: network of lines on topographical maps.
Numbered in small and large numbers and the large ones are used.
Eastings: N-S grid lines called so because they are numbered eastwards.
Northings: W-E grid lines called so because they are numbered northwards. Grid reference is given in 4 figures or six figures. In 4 figure the nearest grid line is stated while the 6 figure is estimated in fractions by dividing the space between grid line into 10 equal parts.
Easting is stated first followed by northing.
In the example below the 4 figure grid references are:
- A-6856
- B-6856
- C-6857
6 figure grid references are:
- A-675555
- B-680560
C-682568
Methods of Representing Relief on Topographical maps
Relief is the nature of landscape e.g. plain, plateau, valleys, hills, etc.
Spot Heights
Points on map whose positions and heights have been determined by surveyors.
They are shown by a dot and a figure e.g. (.1827).
- Advantage-show actual heights
- Disadvantage-can’t be used to identify landforms.
Trigonometrical Stations/Points
Carefully chosen points carefully chosen and their altitude determined which –Are used as a basis for surveying an area.
They are marked on the ground by concrete pillar or slab.
They are indicated on topographical maps by:
Isohypes/Contours and Form Lines
A contour is a line on a map joining all points of the same height above sea level. They are browner in colour and have heights written on them.
Form lines are lines drawn on a map joining places of approximately the same height above sea level. They are less brown than contours and not all have values written on them.
Both contours and form lines are referred to as contours.
Contour/Vertical interval is the difference in height between any two successive contours.
Advantages of contours:
- They show actual heights.
- Can be used to identify land forms.
Pictorials
-Showing relief by drawing landforms at approximate positions where they are found e.g. mountains, hills, valleys, etc. Disadvantages:
- They obscure details behind them.
- Don’t give height above sea level.
- Limited variety of landforms can be accommodated.
Short lines drawn to represent direction of slope.
On steep land they are thick and close together.
On gentle slopes they are thin and wide apart.
Their disadvantage is that they can’t be drawn on flat land.
Hill Shading
Showing relief by shading to show shadows where by steepest slopes which are list lit have darker shade while hill tops, surfaces of plateaus and plains and valley bottoms are well lit have lighter shade.
Layer Tinting
Colouring or shading land within a certain range of altitude or using a single colour with varying tones where the colour gets darker with increasing altitude.
