Write a Paragraph Describing the Parts of a Map. Tell the Function of Each Part in Reading a Map.
Map reading (also sometimes written as map-reading) is the act of interpreting or agreement the geographic data portrayed on a map.
Through map reading, the reader should be able to develop a mental map of the existent-world information by processing the symbolized information shown on the map.
To exercise this, the reader will need to derive essential data presented by the map such equally altitude, direction, natural and human being-made features, and topographical features.
Stride past Stride Instructions to Learn How to Read a Map
To sympathize how to read a map, we are going to look at different maps including this example of a USGS topo map. USGS topo maps are maps created for the entire Usa that show topography (hence the name) along with information about roads, h2o features, , and filigree lines.
The USGS topo map nosotros will expect at is the 1:24,000 scale Half-Dome map which covers a portion of Yosemite National Park.
Now that we accept our instance map, let's get started on learning how to read this USGS topo map.
Map Title
Simply similar the title of a book, the map title will give you lot a inkling as to what the intent of the map is. Map titles tin can be establish in many places on a map. The font size of a map title is typically very large as to describe the viewer'south attention.
In our example map, the map title is found at the pinnacle of the map.
The title section for this type of map from the USGS is a little unlike than most maps you volition discover. The title is actually split up across the top of the page. The championship department to the left of the image is the title for the map series: US Topo.
Us Topo is a map series that the USGS creates showing topography in sections known as quadrangles for the entire United States. To the right of the above image is the title for this particular quadrangle: Half-Dome. Next is the state the quadrangle covers: California. Last is the map calibration for the quadrangle: 1:24,000.
On other maps, the title of the map will be more obvious and descriptively titled. Take, for example. this 1777 map of New York and New Jersey. The title section of the map has been enlarged for view ability. The title is quite description. By reading the title, the reader can sympathise the geographic focus of the map as well also the source information is from that was used to create the map.
Locator Map
A locator map is a smaller map that shows the relative location of the geographic area mapped to a larger area.
For case, this map of Texas has a locator map, also sometimes referred to as a inset map, that shows the relative location of Texas (shaded ruby) to the rest of the continent Us.
Referring back to our example Half-Dome topo map, this locator map shows the relative location of the quadrangle (cherry square) to the residue of the land of California.
Underneath the locator map is an alphabetize map which can be found on maps that are role of a map serial or an atlas. The point of the alphabetize map is to show the location and names of the surrounding quadrangles to the Half-Dome map. This is useful if you are looking for the topo map that is just out of the range of the current topo map you have.
Understanding the Symbols on the Map
Since maps are representations of the real world, cartographers will apply symbols and colors to signal to the reader what they are mapping.
What the symbols on the map mean are defined in what's known as the map legend or the map key.
The indicate of a map legend is to describe what all symbols on the map mean. Maps with a complete map legend or key can exist used without the need for additional interpretation guides.
The map beneath shows the General Plan state employ zones for the City of Santa Clarita in California, the map in the lower correct corner lets the reader understand the meaning of the unlike colored areas.
By matching the colour to the friction match legend, users can empathise that zones shaded blood-red are industrial, blueish shades are industrial, and yellows are non-urban residential.
The The states Topo maps can comprise a lot of symbology that isn't divers on each individual quadrangle. If you look for the map legend on our example Half-Dome quadrangle map, you volition notice the legend is very sparse:
If yous expect at a pocket-size section of the Half-Dome map, you will see that there are a lot of symbols that are not included in the very small-scale legend on the USGS map. There simply isn't enough room to include all the symbology on these very detailed maps.
To understand what those symbols mean, y'all would need to reference the USGS Topographic Symbols guide to look them up.
Some symbols are meant to be intuitive. For example, the dark-green symbol with the picnic table lets y'all immediately empathize this indicate on the map is a rest area where you lot could stop to eat food. The light brown symbol with the hiker lets yous know that path is a hiking trail.
There are other symbols that are harder to understand which is where the USGS Topographic Symbols guide comes in handy. For case, we tin can see areas that wait similar this:
And then what do the blue symbols mean? If we await in the symbol guide, we larn what those symbols mean by looking for a matching symbol:
Map Orientation
Understanding cardinal directions is one of import attribute of reading a map. Which style is north, south, west, or due east?
To evidence direction, maps will contain a northward arrow. A lot of maps are oriented and then that north is towards the top of the map. When a map is oriented with the map towards the north, the north pointer will indicate that Due north is directly up:
In the One-half-Dome map case, the USGS puts more than technical information to show both the direction of geographic north (GN) and magnetic northward (MN):
Non all maps are oriented with north at the top of the map. For example, maps in the Heart Ages were ofttimes oriented with east towards the meridian.
For a more current instance, let's have a look at the city of Santa Monica in California. This beach boondocks sits along the declension of the Pacific Sea.
For readability and aesthetics, cartographers at the city rotate maps 46 degrees so that the beach side lines upwards along the bottom of the page. In this map of the city streets, notice that the n arrow in the lower left mitt corner is tilted to show the direct of due north.
Related: To Due north Arrow or Non to North Arrow
Understanding Map Scale
Map scale is a mode for cartographers to permit the reader know how to translates distance on the map to distance on the footing. Map scale is a expression of the ratio of a distance on the map to the altitude in the existent world.
For instance, the Half-Dome map has a scale of 1:24,000. This ratio means that every one unit on the map is equal to 24,000 of the aforementioned units on the footing. This type of map calibration is known as Representative Fraction (RF).
Therefore, i inch on the map is equal to 24,000 inches on the ground.
Map scale tin can also be expressed as a ratio of one type of unit to another type of unit. You might see a map calibration expressed every bit 1″ = 100′. That means that 1 inch on the map is equal to 100 anxiety in the real globe. This blazon of map scape is known every bit a Verbal Calibration.
A third option for map calibration is to show the human relationship of the map to the existent world as a bar scale. A bar scale is essentially a ruler on the map. Distance on the map is expressed equally a graphic and the corresponding distance is noted on the bar scale.
This example from the Half-Dome map shows both a RF and has a few map scales:
You can larn more than almost map scale by reading the Map Scale commodity or by watching this video: Understanding Map Scale: Large Scale Versus Small Scale Maps
Map Metadata
The terminal important piece of information to empathise well-nigh map reading is the metadata.
Metadata is data near the map. Typical pieces of metadata that you lot might detect on a map are the proper noun of the cartographer, the date the map was created, the source and dates of the information used to create the map, the map projection and datum used, and whatever disclaimers the creator of the map wants yous to know well-nigh.
This is the metadata constitute on the One-half-Dome USGS Topo map. The metadata lets you run across how old the various datasets that the USGS used to create the Topo map are.
The metadata for the City of Santa Clarita's General Programme map contains similar information well-nigh data sources, disclaimers, who created the map, and a link to the original file used to create the map.
Learn more: How to Read a Map
Related
- Uk National Mapping Body to Launch 'National Map Reading Week'
- What is a Map?
- Teaching Basic Map Skills To Young Children
Source: https://www.geographyrealm.com/what-is-map-reading/
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