Question

Mention the components of maps on the basis of scale. Give two examples of small scale.

Answer 1

Maps are a graphical representation of the world or a section of the world.

As a representation of the world, maps are compressed versions of the real world meaning that a large piece of land is recreated onto a smaller piece of paper or digital file.

The relationship between the real world size of a geographic feature and its representative feature on a map is known as scale.

Scale is often represented as a ratio between the real world size and the size in units on the map.

How Scale is Shown on a Map

There are three main ways that scale is indicated on a map: graphic (or bar), verbal, and representative fraction (RF).

Bar Scales

Bar scales show scale using a graphic format. The actual length of the bar scale shows what that length represents in real world units.

In the example below, the bar scale shows the distance on the map that represents ten kilometers or a little under six miles.

Showing scale using a graphic scale.

Showing scale using a graphic scale.

Scale can also be represented verbally or in text format.

Verbal Scale

For example the verbal scale, 1″ = 100′ means that one inch measured the map represented 100 feet on the ground.

This map prepared by the US Census Bureau of the state of Oklahoma includes a verbal map scale.

Base map of the state of Oklahoma prepared by United States. Bureau of the Census. Geography Division. Library of Congress, public domain.

Base map of the state of Oklahoma prepared by United States. Bureau of the Census. Geography Division. Library of Congress, public domain.

This decorative verbal map scale can be found on a map of the city of Washington from 1796.

Map scale. From: Map of part of the city of Washington shewing the situation of the mansion house, grave yard & buildings belonging to Mr. Notley Young : original proprietor of that part of the city, 1796. Library of Congress.

Map scale. From: Map of part of the city of Washington shewing the situation of the mansion house, grave yard & buildings belonging to Mr. Notley Young : original proprietor of that part of the city, 1796. Library of Congress.

Representative Fraction

This type of scale representation visually looks very similar to representative fraction (RF). However, representative fraction avoids the use of units in detailing the scale of a map.

Mediavine

For example, scale that has a RF of 1:100 means that every one unit on the map equals one hundred of the same units on the ground.

In comparable terms a RF scale of 1:1,200 is the same scale as a verbal scale of 1″ = 100′.

A set of map scales from a USGS 7.5 minute Topo map showing representative fraction (RF) and three different bar scales for different metric and standard units.

A set of map scales from a USGS 7.5 minute Topo map showing representative fraction (RF) and three different bar scales for different metric and standard units.

Large Scale and Small Scale Maps

Maps can be described by how varied the scale is.

Maps that show a large geographic area in comparison to the relative size of the map are known as small scale maps. The small scale refers to how small the fraction is.

Mount Rainier in Washington shown on different scaled USGS topo maps. Source: USGS, public domain.

Mount Rainier in Washington shown on different scaled USGS topo maps. Source: USGS, public domain.

A map showing the entire world would be considered a small scale map whereas a map showing a neighborhood would be considered a large scale map.

Small scale maps tend to show a larger geographic area and less detailed and large scale maps show a smaller geographic area with greater detail.

In the example below, the small scale map of the Chicago area shows only major transportation routes, and rivers. In the large scale map, far more detail is available such as all the streets, building footprints, street flow direction, and increased labeling of more features.

Small scale map showing Chicago (upper map) and a large scale map showing a neighborhood in Chicago (lower map).

Small scale map showing Chicago (upper map) and a large scale map showing a neighborhood in Chicago (lower map).

Answer 2

Answer:

examples and Characteristics   (a) The climate of India is described as the 'monsoon' type.   (b) Monsoon refers to the seasonal reversal in the wind direction during the year.   (c) The duration of monsoon is between 100-120 days from .early June to mid September. Around the time of its arrival, the normal rainfall increases suddenly and continues constantly for several days. This is known as 'burst' of the monsoon.   (d) The monsoon has a tendency to have 'breaks'; thus, it has wet and dry spells. In other words, monsoon rains take place only for a few days at a time.   (e) The monsoon is known for its uncertainties.   (f) The alternation of dry and wet spells vary in intensity, frequency and duration.   (g) Distribution of Rainfall Parts of the western coast and north-eastern India receive over 400 cm of rainfall; however, it is less than 60 cm in western Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab. Kashmir also receives low rainfall. The withdrawal of the monsoon begins when the south-west monsoon winds weaken and start withdrawing gradually. By the beginning of October, the monsoon withdrawal from the northern plains. By mid October, it withdraws completely from the northern half of the peninsula. By early December, the monsoon has withdrawn from the rest of India. Effects of the Monsoon   (a) India has traditionally been an agricultural country with more than 50% of its population dependent on agriculture.   (b) A large part of the country's agriculture is mainly dependent upon the monsoon rains.   (c) There is great variation in the rainfall received by the different parts of the country, somewhere it leads to floods and its absence in other parts leads to drought like conditions.   (d) The Indian landscape, its animal and plant life, the entire agricultural calendar and the life of the people, including their festivities revolve around this phenomenon (monsoon).   (e) The monsoon winds bind the whole country by providing water to set the agricultural activities in motion. It is often irregular in its arrival and its retreat sometimes disturbs the farming schedule of millions of farmers all over the country.