S Geography - Curriculum

CAPS

Geography

This support pack for the Mapwork Skills topic in the Geography Grade 12 CAPS curriculum provides valuable practical activities. All activities have the answers provided. Learners can work through these individually at home or

these could form the basis of a catch-up class or online lesson. You have permission to print or photocopy this document

or distribute it electronically via email or WhatsApp.

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Mapwork Skills

Support Pack | Grade 12

Study & Master

1S T U DY & M A S T E R M a p wo r k S k i l l S

Mapwork Skills

Mapwork techniques1. A map is a reduced representation of reality.2. Maps are either drawn on paper or produced digitally.3. Maps show reality in two dimensions. If we want to represent the third dimension (height or altitude) we have to

use contour lines or spot heights.4. On many maps (including synoptic maps) it is not necessary to show altitude. However, symbols are needed

to represent other information on the map.

Interpreting weather- and climate-related data1. A synoptic weather map provides a summary of weather conditions over a particular area at a particular

time.2. Synoptic charts, satellite images and other data give us valuable information about the weather and

climate.3. To make a weather forecast, forecasters examine a series of synoptic charts and compare them to satellite

images and data from weather stations and weather balloons.4. Synoptic charts show weather-related data only and include isobars, station models (the symbols that show

a variety of conditions) and weather features.5. Satellite images are remotely sensed. This means that there is no contact between the sensor in the satellite

and the item being sensed (e.g. the Earth’s surface).6. Satellite images are digital images captured by sensors in satellites that orbit the Earth.7. Meteosat satellites are weather satellites and their sensors capture images of large areas.8. Satellite sensors don’t just capture images; data is also collected from outside the visible light spectrum, for

instance, infrared.

1012

1008

1012

1016

1032

1028

10241020

1016

1012

1008

1024

1040

1028

1028

1036

1024

1020

1028

1016

1016

Crozet

L

H

L

82

30

226

247

275

257

2610

225

254

281218

2

Cape Town Port Elizabeth

Durban

MaputoPretoria

BloemfonteinUpington

Luderitz

Walvis Bay Windhoek

Mowe

Bulawayo Beira

Harare

Gaborone

2810

273

252

14-8

16-11

14-12

12-2

1710

1610

147

190

213

264

6-3

5-3

43

175

102

102

60

8-3

179

118

227

159

146

81

80

139

13 6-4

13-14

187

18114

2

L

Gough

-10

50

1512

L

H

Atananarivo

2521

3014

2721

A

2 S T U DY & M A S T E R S C H O O L S H U T D OW N S U P P O R T

B

WEATHER CLOUD COVERin eighths of sky covered

rain

drizzle

snow

hail

fog

duststorm

thunderstorm

thunderstorm with hail

weather for precedinghour but not at timeof observation

showers

None

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

calm1–2

5

10

1520

25

30

50

65

knots

knots

knots

knots

knots

knots

knots

knots

knots

WIND SPEED

knots x 1.8 = km/h

Symbols used on synoptic weather charts

cold front

warm front

occluded front

tail showswind direction

clear skies

overcast

feather lines showwind strength:long line = 10 knotsshort line = 5 knots

maximum temperatureminimum temperature

175

12

10

C

Figure 1 (a) An example of a synoptic weather map (chart) and (b) the symbols used on a synoptic map and (c) the interpretation of important symbols

Figure 2 Meteosat image of cloud cover as a cold front passed over South Africa on 12 July 2012. Note the curvature of the Earth and the blackness of space in the bottom right corner

3S T U DY & M A S T E R M a p wo r k S k i l l S

Map and photo interpretation: analysing physical and constructed featuresIn climatology and geomorphology, we are more interested in physical (natural) features than in constructed (human-made) features.

Here is a summary of the typical physical features that geographers examine and interpret:

Type of feature Where found or branch of physical geography Significance

Weather phenomena such as fronts, temperate cyclones, tropical cyclones

Climatology: synoptic maps, vertical aerial photographs, and remotely sensed images

Weather forecastingHazard predictionFlood riskLong-term weather predictionsClimate change studies

Landforms such as mountains, hills, valleys, rivers, lakes and many more

Geomorphology: topographical maps, oblique photographs, vertical aerial photographs, orthophoto maps, satellite images

PlanningConstructionHazard predictionSlope managementFlood risk management

Vegetation types and distribution Biogeography: vertical aerial photographs, orthophoto maps, satellite images

PlanningPlant inventoriesHabitat protection

Soil mapping and soil types Soil geography: topographical maps, oblique photographs, vertical aerial photographs, orthophoto maps, satellite images

PlanningEngineeringSoil inventoriesAgriculture and forestryErosion studies

Ocean currents and sea surface temperatures

Oceanography and climatology: maps, vertical aerial photographs, satellite images

Weather forecastingHazard predictionLong-term weather predictionsClimate change studiesGlobal warming studiesHabitat protectionFisheries

Water (surface and underground) Hydrology, geomorphology: topographical maps, oblique photographs, vertical aerial photographs, orthophoto maps, satellite images

Water resource managementAgricultureSalinisation studiesHazard preventionPlanningDams and water storageUnderground water potentialAquifers

Table 1 Summary of the typical physical features that geographers examine and interpret

4 S T U DY & M A S T E R S C H O O L S H U T D OW N S U P P O R T

Scale, contours and cross-sections1. Scale (linear, word or ratio) is one of the most important concepts in map-making.2. The scale found on a 1: 50 000 topographical map is an example of a linear scale.3. There are two important advantages to linear scales:

• Distances can be quickly determined by measuring between two points on the map and comparing them directly to the scale line.

• If the map is enlarged or reduced, the scale remains true because the scale line is also being enlarged or re-duced.

kilometresmetres0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 91 000

linear scale from a 1 : 50 000 topographical mapFigure 3 Linear scale from a 1: 50 000 topographical map

4. Word scales are not often used today.5. An example would be the statement: One centimetre represents five kilometres. 6. A ratio scale also involves measuring a distance between two points on the map. 7. A ratio scale will not remain accurate if the map is enlarged or reduced. An example of a ratio scale is:

1: 50 000.8. Example: Distance on the map between two points is measured and found to be 8,4 cm.

8,4 × 50 000 = 420 000 cm = 4,2 km* *To convert centimetres (cm) to kilometres (km), move the decimal five places to the left.

Map and photo interpretation: reading and analysing features1. In settlement geography, map and photo interpretation is just as important as in physical geography.2. Settlements are often influenced by physical features (slope steepness, soil, availability of water, avoidance of

marshy areas and wetlands), so you must be able to read and analyse physical features in the landscape.3. Constructed features are those things which humans place (build) on the landscape to serve their needs.4. Communications and transport (telephone lines, roads, railways), power lines, dams, and the settlements

themselves are examples of constructed features.5. The below extract clearly shows physical features, as well as urban and rural settlements, roads and railways.6. The key in Figure 5 can be used to identify these features.

5S T U DY & M A S T E R M a p wo r k S k i l l S

Figure 4 1:50 000 topographical map sheet 3030CB Port Shepstone (not to scale)

6 S T U DY & M A S T E R S C H O O L S H U T D OW N S U P P O R T

Figure 5 Topographical map symbols

Exam practiceYou need to practise converting scales from linear to word (statement) to ratios. Scales and distances are important in settlement geography, not just in physical geography, because of what they can tell us about the location, distribution, and relative closeness/distance of human features on a map or orthophoto map.

Terms with similar meaning

• linear scale = line scale• word scale = statement of scale• ratio scale = representative fraction

Consolidation of map skills from Grades 10, 11 and 12Mapwork is all about skills and techniques. The more you practise, the easier it becomes to work with maps, photographs, aerial photographs, orthophoto maps and satellite images. You are expected to be familiar with these geographical sources from Grade 10 Geography, through Grade 11 Geography, and on until the end of Grade 12 Geography.

Map and photo interpretation: reading and analysing featuresApplying map-reading skills Isolines are sometimes used on demographic (population) and economic maps. Isolines are simply lines joining points of equal value, while a contour line joins points of equal height. Examples of isoline maps in human geography might include lines used to identify equal: • population density• income• production.

7S T U DY & M A S T E R M a p wo r k S k i l l S

A visual spatial representation is often more useful than lots of data or statistics.

CBD

income per month

<R3 000

R3 000–R10 000

R10 000–R20 000

>R20 000 2 km

Figure 6 Income distribution around the CBD of a hypothetical city