Externally assessed
4 credits
Apply geographical concepts and skills to demonstrate
understanding of a given environment
4
AS 91243
Geography 2.4
Achievement Standard 91243 (Geography 2.4)
AS 90067
The maps
most
geographers
work with
are maps
of understanding
1:50
000, and these
contouraspects:
lines which indica
Achievement Standard
91243
(Geography
2.4) requires
knowledge
and
of show
the following
or topography
sointerpretation,
these maps are
knowntopographical
as
(or topo)
• geographic skills
– mapping,and
visual
graphing,
statistical
and valuing
skillsmaps . The 1 represents the dist
on the map, and 50000 represents the distance on the ground.
• geographic concepts – the ideas that geographers use to interpret and represent information about the world;
You are
expected
toand
estimate
the scale of another map or satellite photograph using the s
key geographical
concepts
are to
thebe
bigable
ideas
understandings
a
topographical
map.
• given environment – a specific setting unified by place, geographic characteristics, or
themes.
Calculation of area
formula
area is:
Use the checklistThe
at the
end offor
thisworking
chapter out
to ensure
you have completed all the skills.
Historically, the area
AS 91243
examination
hasorbeen
= length
× breadth
A = divided
l × b into three sections:
• Question One:
photographs
and
images
2 orsatellite
TheMaps,
answer
will be in km
m2
• Question Two: Graphs, tables and statistics
Examples
• Question Three: Application
of geographic concepts.
A
block
of land on a topo map measures 3.6 cm by 4.2 cm
This chapter will follow the same format.
Sample only
4.2
3.6
×
square kilometres = 1.8 × 2.1 = 3.78 km 2
2
2
This area represents
Question One: Maps, photographs and satellite images
Topographical
maps3.3A: Scale and distance
Activity
Topographical maps
are maps ofthe
a scale
of 1:50table.
000 and have contour lines which show relief. They also contain
1. complete
following
symbols which explain the natural and cultural features of the area. A key gives the meaning of the symbols.
Representative
Latitude and longitude and/or grid
references help you plot and describe the location of features on a map.
fraction or ratio
Scale in words
Linear or line scale
Mapping skills
Scale and distance
1:250 000
0
a.
2.5
5
7.5 km
A map represents a given area on the ground. Scale is a ratio and shows how
0 much
0.5the real
1 world
1.5has
kmbeen
1 cm to 0.5 km
b.
‘reduced’ to fit onto the map. Map scale is important because it tells you about the size of features and distances
between the features. The larger the reduction, the greater the ratio and the smaller1the scale
map.
3 km
2 of the
1 cm to 1 km
c.
The maps most geographers work with are maps of 1:50 000, and these show contour lines which indicate relief
0 The51 represents
10
15
or topography and so these maps
(or topo) maps.
thekm
distance on
d. are known as topographical
e.
the map, and 50 000 represents the distance on the ground.
2. to a.
A road
measures
cm on
a map ofmap
scale
1:50
000. Calculate
how
long
road
is. on
You are expected
be able
to estimate
the1scale
of another
or satellite
photograph
using
thethe
scale
given
a topographical map.
b. The same road measures
2 cm on another map ‘X’ of unknown scale.
orkW
out the scale of map ‘X
Calculation of area
Example
The formula for working out area is:
area = length × breadth or A = l × b
A block of land on a topo map measures 3.6 cm by 4.2 cm
3.6
4.2
This area represents
×
square kilometres = 1.8 × 2.1
2
2
The answer will3.be in
or
2
Calculate how much area=
a square
3.78 kmkilometre occupies on the following maps.
km2
m2
a. 1:25 000 map:
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b. 1:50 000 map:
AS 90067
2 Achievement Standard 91243 (Geography 2.4)
Ans. p. 47
Activity: Scale, distance and area
1. Complete the following table.
Representative
fraction or ratio
Scale in words
Linear or line scale
1:250 000
a.
02.557.5 km
b.
1 cm to 0.5 km
0
c.
1 cm to 1 km
d.
e.
0
0.5
1
1.5 km
1
2
3 km
5
10
15 km
2.a. A road measures 1 cm on a map of scale 1:50 000. Calculate how long the road is.
b. The same road measures 2 cm on another map ‘X’ of unknown scale. Work out the scale of map ‘X’.
3. Calculate how much area a square kilometre occupies on the following maps.
a.
1:25 000 map:
Sample only
b.1:50 000 map:
4. This question refers to the colour map and key on pages 9, 42.
a. What is the straight-line distance between the Surf Club at Red Beach and the Surf Club at Orewa?
b.What is the straight-line distance from the bridge on SH17 at 518482 northward to the small bridge at
the end of Orewa Beach just before Hatfields Beach?
c. Give the area of the Orewa CBD in km2.
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Apply geographical concepts and skills to demonstrate understanding of a given environment 3
Location is indicated on a map by latitude and longitude and by grid references.
Latitude and longitude
• Latitude is the angular expression of the distance north or south from the equator. The equator is 0° latitude,
and from the equator is south to the South Pole at 90° S latitude, and north to the North Pole at 90° N latitude.
• Longitude is the angular expression of the distance east or west from the imaginary line known as the prime
meridian. The prime meridian is at 0° longitude. In the eastern hemisphere, the longitude is given in degrees
east; in the western hemisphere, it is given in degrees west. The 180 degree meridian is known as the
International Date Line.
Each degree (°) is divided into 60 minutes (‘), each minute is divided into 60 seconds (“). Latitude is always given
first and is found on the sides of the map.
For New Zealand maps, latitude is read from the top of the map and increases towards the bottom as latitude
is measured from the equator 0° and New Zealand is south of the equator. Longitude is found at the bottom of
a map and in New Zealand it is read from left to right as New Zealand is east of the prime meridian from which
latitude is measured.
Six-figure grid references
Topographic maps are divided into a square grid with grid lines numbered sequentially from the bottom left of
the map. The grid numbers on the:
• east-west (horizontal) axis are called eastings and represent the value of the vertical lines
• north-south (vertical) axis are called northings and represent the value of the horizontal lines.
Sample only
On 1:50 000 Topo50 maps, the distance between adjacent lines is 2 cm, which represents 1 000 metres. The
squares formed by intersecting eastings and northings are called grid squares. On Topo50 maps, each square
represents an area of 100 hectares or one square kilometre.
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AS 91243
Location
AS 90067
4 Achievement Standard 91243 (Geography 2.4)
Activity: Location
1. The following map is from a 1:50 000 Topo50 map.
46
No. 1 dairy farm
d
i Roa
u
Paran
Paranui
Ans. p. 47
45
church
Paranui
Community
Hall
44
43
Blue Gorge Farm
Kowhai Bush Reserve
Blu
42
eG
or
d
oa
ra R
ge
67
Ro
Sample only
a
ap
Par
68
69
70
ad
71
41
72
a. Give the 6-figure grid references for:
i. the church
ii. Blue Gorge Farm
iii. the intersection between Blue Gorge Road and Parapara Road
iv. the Paranui village water reservoir.
b. Remembering that the distance between each line is 2 cm which represents 1 000 m, work out the area
that the map represents.
c. Determine the approximate area, in hectares, of Kowhai Bush Reserve.
2. This question refers to the colour map and key on pages 9, 10.
a. On which coast of the North Island is Orewa?
b. Give the latitude and longitude of point A on the map.
c. What road is to be found at grid reference 495495?
d. What cultural feature is to be found at grid reference 513490?
e. What cultural feature is to be found at grid reference 477510?
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Apply geographical concepts and skills to demonstrate understanding of a given environment 5
Direction
N
NNE
NE
ENE
WNW
W
E
ESE
WSW
SW
Further divisions to make eight are NE, NW, SE and SW.
AS 91243
NW
There is no ‘Up’ or ‘Down’ on a map, only compass
directions. The four cardinal points of the compass in
order are NESW.
NNW
SSW
SSE
SE
S
Activity: Direction
y
Fair
Lake Rotorua
ngs
Spri
d
Roa
1.a.In which direction would you be
travelling:
i.along Fairy Springs Road into Rotorua
if you were coming from the South?
Ans. p. 47
ii.on a plane flying directly from Kairau
Park to Smallbone Park?
Owhatiura Bay
Kairau
Park
iii.on a plane flying directly from
Smallbone Park to Owhatiura Bay?
Rotorua
Sample only
Smallbone
Park
Lynmore
Whakarewarewa
b. Give the direction from Kairau Park to:
i.Whakarewarewa
ii. Smallbone Park
iii.Lynmore
iv. Owhatiura Bay.
2. This question refers to the colour map and key on pages 9, 10.
a.i. Give the height of the highest point on the map.
ii. Give the general location of the highest land.
iii. Explain the relationship between steepness of slope and land use in the Orewa District.
b. What is the direction from the Orewa Surf Club to:
i. the bridge over the Orewa River?
ii.Silverdale?
iii. the interchange on SH1 at Grand Drive?
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AS 90067
6 Achievement Standard 91243 (Geography 2.4)
Using a key
A key enables us to interpret a topographical map. The key which accompanies a map gives an explanation of all
the symbols used. The symbols are divided into various types, such as:
• cultural – roads, buildings, urban development, railways, airports
• hydrography (associated with water) – symbols are blue, e.g. lakes, rivers, streams, swamps
• relief – mountains, valleys, slopes
• vegetation – indigenous (such as natural bush) as well as exotic (such as plantations, vineyards and
orchards).
Calculation of height
A topographic map has three ways of showing height above mean sea level – contours, spot heights and
beaconed trig stations (or trig beacons).
Contours
Contours are lines joining places of equal height above sea level. A contour interval or spacing is chosen
between contour lines depending on the topography (e.g. contour lines might represent 20 vertical metres or
50 vertical metres, etc.). The contour interval does not vary across the map and the contour interval is always
given, often with the key. On topo50 maps contour lines are brown; every 4th line is dark brown.
The spacing between contours indicates how flat or steep land is. The closer the contours are together, the
steeper the slope. The further apart the contours, the flatter the land.
Sample only
In the following map, the contour interval is 25 m and thus the dark lines represent contour lines of multiples of
100 m – such as 700 m and 800 m.
Slopes are described as follows:
700
convex
800
concave
90
0
900
uniform
Contours show relief features.
Rivers cut into the land and are shown by contours
that ‘point’ towards higher land. Ridges ‘point’
towards lower land.
Spot heights and beaconed trig stations
Spot heights are heights above sea level given
across the map. Beaconed trig stations have beacons
erected by surveyors on prominent heights and
marked on the map by a triangle – they are shown
on the map as ▲.
Rid
560
ge
River
Waterfall of 20 m
valle
y
540
Do
wn
520
str
eam
500
The reference number and height of the trig beacon
are given in italics.
Relief shading helps you visualise the terrain. Hills and valleys are shaded as if they were lit up from the
northwest, so the southeast slopes are shaded.
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Apply geographical concepts and skills to demonstrate understanding of a given environment 7
AS 91243
Activity: Map interpretation
1.
Ans. p. 47
Sample only
Find the beaconed trig station.
a. The identification code is:
b. The height is:
2.
NW
B
A
a. Give one natural reason why the area shown lacks settlement.
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8 Achievement Standard 91243 (Geography 2.4)
AS 90067
b. In which direction is Prices Stream (shown as A) flowing?
c. What is the feature marked at
B?
d. What are the highest and lowest points on the map?
Highest point:
Lowest point:
e. In which general direction does the land slope?
3. This question refers to the colour map and key on pages 9, 10.
a. Name the only two entries into Orewa.
b. Explain the location of settlement in the Orewa area.
c. T he main road north originally went through Orewa, which created congestion. To bypass Orewa, the
Northern Gateway Toll Road was built and completed in January 2009.
There were numerous environmental problems the road engineers had to face in constructing the road,
as seen along the stretch from Grand Drive northwards. Problems were also created for locals who lived
in Hillside Road on the western side of the (then) proposed new freeway.
Explain the problems road engineers had in building the Northern Gateway Toll Road, and how they
overcame these problems.
Sample only
d. Explain the location of the airstrip at grid reference 477510.
e. Explain the location of the bridge at 518484 over the Orewa River on the Hibiscus Coast Highway, SH 17.
© ESA Publications (NZ) Ltd, Freephone 0800-372 266
Colour resources 9
Topographic map of Orewa, North Island, New Zealand
Sample only
© ESA Publications (NZ) Ltd, Freephone 0800-372 266
AS 90067
Colour resources
AS 90067
10 Level 2 Geography Learning Workbook
Sample only
© ESA Publications (NZ) Ltd, Freephone 0800-372 266
Answers
Achievement Standard 91243 (Geography 2.4)
Activity: Scale, distance and area (page 2)
1.a.
1 cm on the map represents 2.5 km on the ground
b.
1:50 000
c.
1:100 000
d.
1:500 000
e.
1 cm on the map represents 5 km on the ground
2.a.
50 000 cm = 500 m
Since 1 km = 1 000 m, and 1 m is 100 cm, 1 km = 1 000 × 100 =
100 000 cm; it thus follows that 50 000 cm represents 0.5 km
Thus when you measure a distance in cm on a topo map, to convert
to km simply divide by 0.5
The feature has doubled in size so the map scale is larger by 2.
Thus map ‘X’ is 1:25 000
4 cm by 4 cm
b.
2 cm by 2 cm
4.a.
2.4 cm = 1.2 km
b.
5 cm = 2.5 km
c.
1 cm × 1.3 cm = 0.5 km × 0.65 km = 0.325 km2
Activity: Location (page 4)
1.a.i.696448
Go along until exactly under the church, 6/10ths of the ‘69–70’
square is 696, then go up and across exactly from the church
in 8/10ths of the ‘44–45’ square is 448; thus the six-figure grid
reference becomes 696448
ii.708428
c.
Grand Drive
d.
School
e.
Airstrip
1.a.NNW
b.
SW
c.
NE
2.a.SSE
b.
SSW
c.
ESE
d.
ENE
3.a.i.
157 m
ii.North/northwest
iii.Urban centres such as Orewa are found on flat land. The
steeper slopes to the north and northwest are used for
farming and larger rural subdivisions, as the land is too
steep to take intensive housing.
b.i.SSW
ii.SW
iii.WNW
Activity: Map interpretation (page 7)
1.a.A9K8
b.
134 m
2.a.There are many ridges and river valleys with steep slopes, which
make farming and settlement difficult due to the lack of flat land.
b.
SW
c.
A ridge.
d.i.
Highest point is 785 m
iii.699424
ii.
Lowest point is 399 m
iv.693447
e.
b.
Eastings is 67 – 72 = 5 grid units, 1 grid unit = 1 km,
5 grid units = 5 km
3.a.
In a SW direction.
Grand Drive from SH1, and the Hibiscus Coast Highway.
b.
Most settlement is on flat land close to the coast.
c.
Kowhai Bush Reserve covers about 3 squares, and on Topo50 maps,
each square represents an area of 100 hectares, so Kowhai Bush
Reserve covers about 300 hectares.
As seen from the map, road engineers faced steep slopes and
numerous river valleys that had to be crossed – such as the
Nukumea Stream and Otanerua Stream – in building SH1. These
streams were crossed by constructing viaducts – seen at 494514
and 504527, respectively. Local existing roads also proved a
problem; for example, Hillcrest Road – from the map, it can be
seen SH1 is lowered (as shown by the cutting) and a bridge
has been built to allow access over the freeway for locals to the
western side of Hillcrest Road (497518).
d.
Or each square is 1 km × 1 km, so 3 squares = 3 km2, and since
1 km2 = 100 hectares, 3 km2 = 300 hectares
On flat tableland, elevation of 100 m – for ease of landing and
take-off of planes and away from built-up areas for safety.
e.
Narrowest part of river / links Orewa and Whangaparaoa
Peninsula / avoids rocky and steep area at mouth of river.
Or map is 10 cm wide, 2 cm = 1 km
Northings is 41 – 46 = 5 grid units, 1 grid unit = 1 km,
5 grid units = 5 km
36° 35´ S, 174° 40´ E.
Sample only
Each centimetre is 250 m (250 m × 2 = 500 m).
3.a.
East coast
b.
Activity: Direction (page 5)
For ‘topo’ maps which have a scale of 1:50 000, 1 cm represents
50 000 cm
b.
2.a.
Or map is 10 cm deep, 2 cm = 1 km
Area map represents is 5 km × 5 km = 25 km2
c.
300 hectares
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Activity: Cross-sections and précis maps (page 9)
1.a.
20 m
b.
A is a sea cliff, B a waterfall.
c.
C is convex, D concave.
d.
In the sea.
e.
F
f.
Cross-section from E to F
Height
in
metres
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
End point
must be
between
180 m and
200 m
E
F
2.
To correctly position and size an object on a précis map, imaginary gridlines which line up the feature with other important features on the map can be used.
For the Précis map of Orewa, the trig beacon lines up with the middle of the headland on the coast and is positioned a quarter of the width of the précis map.
Gridlines help position
object
Sample only
Trig beacon same
symbol as used on the
Topographical Map, and
proportionate to map
size
Two areas of
Orewa
Proportions and the
position in the estuary
must be correct
Key
Urban area of Orewa
Crocodile Island (Te Motu-o-Marae-Ariki)
Coastal rocks to the south of Orewa
Trig beacon A9KB 134m in the NW
Interchange on SH1 at Grand Drive
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