Geography Question Thread

[horse9996]

What's the difference between a precis map and chloropleth map?

[gilliesb18]

A precis map is basically a simple topographic map which shows only the main features of a topographical map, so landuse, important buildings etc.
A choropleth map uses colors and shades to indicate the average values of a particular quantity in those areas. So this means that a map showing temperature in Australia would use the color red, for example, to indicate the hottest area, and blue to indicate the coldest area.
Does that make some sense?

[gilliesb18]

I'm planning for all 3 topics because as you said you need to know all of them for short answers anyway, so it doesn't take too much effort to know everthing in slightly more depth. I just think it's safer to know all of them in case on of the topics you prepared for has a really hard question, but it could be fine if you are spending more time on your 2 chosen topics.

Yep I see! No - it's true what u say... I basically ran out of time to study in depth for all of them!

[horse9996]

A precis map is basically a simple topographic map which shows only the main features of a topographical map, so landuse, important buildings etc.
A choropleth map uses colors and shades to indicate the average values of a particular quantity in those areas. So this means that a map showing temperature in Australia would use the color red, for example, to indicate the hottest area, and blue to indicate the coldest area.
Does that make some sense?

Can a precis map use colours like a chloropleth map?

[horse9996]

Yep I see! No - it's true what u say... I basically ran out of time to study in depth for all of them!

Despite this, I'm also gonna be walking in with the plan that I'm doing the ecosystems and economic activity essays, as I'm better at these topics and can make up stuff more easily, and I haven't seen a question in past papers that I couldn't answer yet

[horse9996]

What's the difference between "ecological dimension" and "environmental constraint"? (2016 q1)

[jazcstuart]

What's the difference between "ecological dimension" and "environmental constraint"? (2016 q1)

The answer should be ecological dimension, tbh I don't know exactly what it means but environmental constraint is the environmental factors which limit a business or activity, so this refers more to people and economic activity. For example an environmental constraint for viticuluture (growing grapes for wine which is my economic activity) is that they can only grow in Mediterranean climates.

From google: "the ecological dimension describes the relationship that exists between people and the natural elements of the environment and the impacts that they have upon one another."

[gilliesb18]

Basically though, ecological dimension is the relationship between humans and their impact on the environment. Environmental constraint is how the area is restricted by the environment I believe...so alpine tourism for example can only take place in cold areas with snow, obviously:)
that help at all?
And to answer your other one, precis maps can use colors, but not to differentiate between temperatures etc, more to differentiate the areas, so land use, say an area may be green to depict a park, blue is used to show water. That make sense?
Choropleth maps use colors in gradients to show things like temperature, precipitation etc.

[horse9996]

Basically though, ecological dimension is the relationship between humans and their impact on the environment. Environmental constraint is how the area is restricted by the environment I believe...so alpine tourism for example can only take place in cold areas with snow, obviously:)
that help at all?
And to answer your other one, precis maps can use colors, but not to differentiate between temperatures etc, more to differentiate the areas, so land use, say an area may be green to depict a park, blue is used to show water. That make sense?
Choropleth maps use colors in gradients to show things like temperature, precipitation etc.

So to summarise:
Ecological dimension = human impacts
Environmental constraint = environmental limits
Precis map = simplified topographic map
Chloropleth map = colours show trends

Thanks for the help!

[Bron01]

Hey can someone please help me understand how to work out the time of day when just looking at a photo??
Also how do you work out a semi-logarithmic graph??

[horse9996]

Hey can someone please help me understand how to work out the time of day when just looking at a photo??
Also how do you work out a semi-logarithmic graph??

For time of day, usually they will get you to refer to a map and you will know what direction the photo is taken from (given or it will be indicated in the image eg look at water, mountains, etc). I like to rotate the map around based on the way the photo is facing. Then, look at the length and direction of the shadows. If they are long, the photo is likely mid morning or mid afternoon while if they are shorter it is likely in the middle of the day. The direction indicated if its morning or afternoon (think of where the sun would have to be to create the shadows and therefore if its in the east/west).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQc5DaL0WMI Here is a video on semi-logarithmic graphs

[Bron01]

Thanks a million!!
That's awesome!!

[horse9996]

For things where they give you a key or say complete the key then construct eg precis maps, transects, are you allowed to just use coloured pencils rather than come up with symbols?

[Bron01]

For things where they give you a key or say complete the key then construct eg precis maps, transects, are you allowed to just use coloured pencils rather than come up with symbols?

I think they say to use pen coz the drawings, colour, etc doesn't show up well when they scan them in!!

[jazcstuart]

For things where they give you a key or say complete the key then construct eg precis maps, transects, are you allowed to just use coloured pencils rather than come up with symbols?

I would have thought you can, because one of the items on the list of equipment you can take in for geography is coloured pencils, so they wouldn't say this if you couldn't use them.