C.1 Geography, Skill #4- Notes

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C.1 Geography, Skill #4- Notes

Analyze geographic information from maps, charts, and graphs.

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Maps

Maps

two-dimensional model of the Earth or a portion of its surface

maps are made to represent an area that we cannot see, to show a phenomenon/ process, to present information concisely, or to show spatial relationships

depict spatial information on paper so that the geographer can read and use information effectively

Categorized based on the kind of information they include

General reference maps show a variety of information about a location such as geological, geographical, political

Political maps show political boundaries, states, cities, capitals and countries

Physical maps show landforms and bodies of water

Special Purpose Maps (Thematic) focus on specific aspect of geography such as climate, vegetation, population density, etc.

Map properties

shape

geometric shapes of the objects on the map

Size (area)

relative amount of space taken up on the map by the landforms/ objects on the map

Distance

represented distance between objects on the map

Direction

degree of accuracy representing the cardinal directions and their intermediate directions

less accurate are the relative directions people commonly use to describe a location (left, right, up, down, etc.)

Parts of a map

Title

Compass

Scale

Grid

longitude (meridian) lines: run Pole to Pole (up and down/ vertical) and measure distances east and west of the prime meridian (0')

latitude lines: run parallel/ horizontal and measure distances north and south of the equator

Labels

Key (Legend)

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Graphs and Charts

Graphs and charts

graphical representations that summarize data and show relationships between data

have the capability of strengthening the implications about data through the use of visual images, colors, and other tools

Features

title

diagram

dimensions

scale

labels

data

legend

Types of charts and graphs

area chart/ graph

used to show how something changes over time

bar chart/ graph

uses horizontal/ vertical blocks/ bars to compare the amounts/ frequency of items or shows single items at distinct intervals

useful for comparing groups of data

column chart

compare items at distinct intervals

different from bar charts in that they arrange categories along the horizontal axis and place the values along the vertical axis

line chart/ graph

compares two or more sets of information

plots the value of data and then connects the dots

usually show continuous change over time

Pie chart/ circle graph

used t represent a part-to-whole relationship between data groups

show the relationship between component values but only reflect a snapshot of one moment in time

Scatter plot/ scattergraph

simplest type of graph

data displayed as a collection of points hat simply plots the data points against their values without making any connecting lines, columns, or bars