Geographic skills

Example

Definition

Isolines are lines drawn on maps connecting data points of the same value. Isolines should have equal intervals between them numerically, and if shaded in a choropleth manner, the map can be known as an isopleth map.

carto.com

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 4.3.2 Shrinking world - transport developments over time
• fw.3.3 Growing human pressures on lakes and aquifers

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• Specimen paper - Urban environments

Example

Definition

Choropleth Maps display divided geographical areas or regions that are coloured, shaded or patterned in relation to a data variable. This provides a way to visualise values over a geographical area, which can show variation or patterns across the displayed location.

The data variable uses colour progression to represent itself in each region of the map. Typically, this can be a blending from one colour to another, a single hue progression, transparent to opaque, light to dark or an entire colour spectrum.

datavizcatalogue.com

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.1.3 Population distribution and economic development at the national scale
• 1.2.3 Migration - knowledge and understanding
• 1.3.3 Gender equality policies
• 2.1.3 The enhanced greenhouse effect
• 2.3.1 Climate change risk and vulnerability
• 3.1.1 Poverty reduction
• 3.1.5 Energy
• 4.1.1 Global interactions
• 6.2.1 Transboundary pollution - Chernobyl
• ee.1.4 Changing distribution of extreme environments over time
• fh.1.1 Global patterns in nutrition indicators
• fh.1.3 Global patterns in health indicators
• fh.2.4 Vector-borne and water-borne diseases

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• Specimen paper - Unit 3
• N19 - Geophysical hazards, Food and health and Unit 3
• M21 - Unit 2
• M22 - Unit 1
• N22 - Freshwater
• M23 - Geophysical hazards
• N23 - Food and health

Example

The topologist’s world map

Definition

A topological map is a type of diagram that has been simplified so that only vital information remains and unnecessary detail has been removed.

Wikipedia

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• N20 - Food and health

Example

nbcnews.com - 500,000 lives lost [22 February 2021]

CNN - Race and ethnicity across the nation [12 August 2021]

Dot Map of South Africa

Office for National Statistics - Census maps

Census Dots

Toronto Dot Density Map

Definition

There are two types of Dot Map: one-to-one (one point represents a single count or object) and one-to-many (one point represents a particular unit, e.g. 1 point = 10 trees).

Dot Maps are ideal for seeing how things are distributed over a geographical region and can reveal patterns when the points cluster on the map. Dot Maps are easy to grasp and are better at giving an overview of the data, but are not great for retrieving exact values.

datavizcatalogue.com

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.1.1 Global population distribution
• 1.1.3 Population distribution and economic development at the national scale

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• N22 - Unit 2

Example

flowmap.blue - Relocations between Swiss cantons in 2016

Definition

A type of thematic map that uses linear symbols to represent movement.

Wikipedia

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.1.3 Population distribution and economic development at the national scale
• 3.2.3 Recycling and waste
• 4.2.1 Global networks and flows - Global trade
• 4.2.2 Global networks and flows - Illegal flows
• fw.4.2 Multipurpose dams

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• M22 - Oceans and coastal margins

Example

Definition

A type of map that portrays the geographic pattern of a particular subject matter (theme) in a geographic area.

Wikipedia

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 2.2.3 Climate change and the biosphere
• 4.3.3 Shrinking world - communications
• ee.1.4 Changing distribution of extreme environments over time

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• M19 - Oceans and coastal margins, Extreme environments and Unit 2
• N19 - Extreme environments and urban environments
• N20 - Freshwater and Food and health
• M21 - Oceans and coastal margins and Extreme environments
• N21 - Extreme environments and Geophysical hazards
• M22 - Extreme environments
• N23 - Oceans and coastal margins
• M24 - Freshwater, Oceans and coastal margins and Unit 2

Example

Definition

The distinctive characteristic of a topographic map is the use of elevation contour lines to show the shape of the Earth's surface.

USGS

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• ee.1.3 Cold / high altitude extreme environments
• ee.2.3 Hot and arid landscapes

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• Specimen paper - Freshwater
• M19 - Urban environments
• N19 - Oceans and coastal margins
• N20 - Geophysical hazards
• M21 - Food and health
• M22 - Urban environments

Sources

Example

USGS - USGS Magnitude 2.5+ Earthquakes, Past Day

Definition

Proportional symbol maps scale the size of simple symbols (usually a circle or square) proportionally to the data value found at that location. They are a simple concept to grasp: The larger the symbol, the “more” of something exists at a location.

Axis Maps

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.1.3 Population distribution and economic development at the national scale
• 4.2.3 International aid, loans, debt relief and remittances
• ee.1.4 Changing distribution of extreme environments over time

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• Specimen paper - Unit 1
• N20 - Oceans and coastal margin
• M23 - Unit 3

Example

Definition

An aerial photograph, in broad terms, is any photograph taken from the air. Normally, air photos are taken vertically from an aircraft using a highly-accurate camera.

Concepts of Aerial Photography

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• ee.2.1 Glacial landscapes
• ee.2.2 Periglacial landscapes
• ee.2.3 Hot and arid landscapes

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• Specimen paper - Oceans and coastal margins
• M22 - Leisure, tourism and sport

Example

Definition

Ground photography is taken from a vantage point somewhere at ground level. It can produce close up, detailed images or wider angle shots, but within a much more limited scope than aerial photographs.

JRR Aerial Imaging

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• ee.2.1 Glacial landscapes
• ee.2.2 Periglacial landscapes
• ee.2.3 Hot and arid landscapes

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• M23 - Oceans and coastal margins
• M24 - Extreme environments

Example

Definition

Satellite imagery consists of photographs of Earth or other planets captured by satellites.

IGI Global

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.1.1 Global population distribution
• 1.2.2 Megacity growth

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• M19 - Leisure, tourism and sport
• N21 - Freshwater
• M24 - Leisure, tourism and sport

Example

Definition

A scatter diagram (also known as scatter plot, scatter graph, and correlation chart) is a tool for analyzing relationships between two variables for determining how closely the two variables are related. One variable is plotted on the horizontal axis and the other is plotted on the vertical axis. The pattern of their intersecting points can graphically show relationship patterns.

online.visual-paradigm.com

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.1.2 Global patterns of economic development
• 3.3.3 Resource stewardship and the UN SDGs
• 5.2.1 Global spectrum of cultural traits
• fh.2.2 Variations in food consumption

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• M19 - Freshwater
• N21 - Unit 3
• M22 - Geophysical hazards
• N23 - Urban environments

Example

Definition

A line chart (aka line plot, line graph) uses points connected by line segments from left to right to demonstrate changes in value. The horizontal axis depicts a continuous progression, often that of time, while the vertical axis reports values for a metric of interest across that progression.

chartio

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.1.1 Global population distribution
• 1.2.1 Population change and demographic transition over time
• 1.2.1 Population change and Iceland
• 1.3.2 Ageing societies - Japan
• 2.2.1 Climate change and the hydrosphere and atmosphere
• 3.1.4 The availability and consumption of water, land and food
• 3.1.5 Energy
• 3.2.2 Water, food and energy (and Iceland)
• 6.1.4 Globalization and nationalism
• ee.1.3 Cold / high altitude extreme environments
• fh.1.1 Global patterns in nutrition indicators
• fh.1.2 The nutrition transition
• fw.1.2 River discharge and hydrographs
• fw.2.1 Flood risk within a drainage basin

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• M19 - Unit 1
• N20 - Unit 1 and Unit 2
• N21 - Unit 3
• N22 - Oceans and coastal margins
• M23 - Leisure, tourism and sport
• N23 - Freshwater (as a hydrograph)
• M24 - Urban environments

Example

Definition

A bar graph is a graphical representation of information. It uses bars that extend to different heights to depict value.

Bar graphs can be created with vertical bars, horizontal bars, grouped bars (multiple bars that compare values in a category), or stacked bars (bars containing multiple types of information).

Investopedia

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 3.1.2 The growth of the “new global middle class”
• 4.2.4 Foreign Direct Investment and outsourcing
• 6.2.3 Carbon footprints for global flows
• ee.1.3 Cold / high altitude extreme environments
• fw.1.2 River discharge and hydrographs

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• Specimen paper - Leisure, tourism and sport
• M21 - Leisure, tourism and sport
• N21 - Urban environments
• M22 - Unit 3
• N23 - Freshwater (as a hydrograph) and Unit 3

Example

Definition

A compound bar-chart (also known as a stacked bar-chart) is similar to a clustered bar-chart, but instead of placing the bars next to each other, they are placed on top of each other.

peterstatistics.com

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.1.2 Global patterns of economic development
• 1.3.3 Gender equality policies
• 2.2.2 Climate change and the incidence and severity of extreme weather events
• 3.1.1 Poverty reduction
• 3.1.5 Energy
• fh.2.1 The merits of a systems approach
• fh.2.2 Variations in food consumption
• fh.2.4 Vector-borne and water-borne diseases

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• N19 - Unit 1
• M21 - Unit 3
• N21 - Food and health
• M22 - Freshwater
• N23 - Unit 1

Example

Cities Moving

Definition

Triangular graphs are used to show the relationship between 3 sets of data, and are used when the 3 sets of data combined add up to 100%.

Piggraphy Alevel Skills

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.2.1 Population change and demographic transition over time

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• N20 - Leisure, tourism and sport
• N23 - Oceans and coastal margins

Example

Definition

On a logarithmic scale, numbers on the Y-axis don’t move up in equal increments but instead each interval increases by a set factor – it’s often 10 but could be a factor of 3 or 350 or 3,500, anything at all. It all depends on what is deemed to be the most effective way of interpreting the data in question. The Richter scale is logarithmic – an earthquake that measures 6 is 10- times more destructive than one that measures 5.

It “flattens out the rate of growth so it becomes easier to see,", he says. "On a logarithmic graph of COVID-19 infections, even though the overall numbers are still increasing, you can see the point at which the rate of growth starts to level off when that exponential growth has stopped."

World Economic Forum - What's a logarithmic graph and how does it help explain the spread of COVID-19? [3 April 2020]

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.1.1 Global population distribution
• fh.2.1 The merits of a systems approach
• fw.1.3 River processes - erosion, transportation and deposition

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• M22 - Geophysical hazards
• N22 - Geophysical hazards
• M23 - Food and health

Example

Definition

Bipolar survey -

A survey where a chosen aspect is rated using
polar opposite ratings (e.g. from -5 to +5).

PMT - Edexcel Geography A-Level

Bipolar analysis -

One way of displaying the results of the bi-polar analysis is to draw a bar chart with the bi-polar score on the x-axis and labels on the y-axis.

Field Studies Council

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

No geographyalltheway.com pages include this content yet.

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• Not yet

Example

Definition

A pie chart is a graphical representation of data that is used to show the proportion of different categories within a whole. It is often used in geography to compare the relative sizes of different regions or land uses. The chart is circular in shape and each category is represented by a slice or wedge, the size of which is proportional to the amount of data it represents. This type of visualization allows for a quick and easy comparison of the different categories and their relative sizes.

ChatGPT

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 3.1.2 The growth of the “new global middle class”
• fh.1.4 The disease continuum and the implications of a global ageing population

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• N21 - Oceans and coastal margins
• N22 - Paper 2 visual stimulus

Example

Definition

A flow chart is a type of diagram that represents a process or system, showing the steps and decisions involved. It uses symbols and shapes to connect the steps in a logical order, and is commonly used in geography to document and communicate processes such as land use change, population migration and other spatio-temporal processes.

ChatGPT - What is a flow chart → Please rewrite this for a geographer

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 2.1.1 The atmospheric system
• 2.2.1 Climate change and the hydrosphere and atmosphere
• 3.2.1 Nexus Thinking
• 3.2.3 Recycling and waste
• 3.3.2 The circular economy
• 4.2.4 Foreign Direct Investment and outsourcing
• 5.1.3 Social entrepreneurship
• ee.1.4 Changing distribution of extreme environments over time
• fh.1.4 The disease continuum and the implications of a global ageing population
• fh.2.1 The merits of a systems approach
• fw.1.1 The drainage basin as an open system
• fw.1.4 River landforms
• fw.2.1 Flood risk within a drainage basin
• fw.3.2 Environmental consequences of agricultural activities on water quality

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• Specimen paper - Extreme environments
• M19 - Geophysical hazards
• N19 - Geophysical hazards
• M21 - Urban environments

Example

Definition

The population pyramid represents the breakdown of the population by gender and age at a given point in time. It consists of two histograms, one for each gender (by convention, men on the left and women on the right) where the numbers are shown horizontally and the ages vertically. The numbers by gender and by age depend on interactions between fertility, mortality and migrations. The shape of the pyramid and its variations over the years depend above all on the variations in fertility.

Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.2.1 Population change and demographic transition over time
• 1.2.1 Population change and Iceland
• 1.2.3 Migration - knowledge and understanding

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• N22 - Paper 2 visual stimulus
• M23 - Unit 1

Example

1. Estimate what percentage of the city's total wealth belongs to the wealthiest 10% of households. [1]
2. Referring to the graph, outline the evidence that many households in this city suffer from poverty. [2]

Definition

Graphical Representation of the Gini Index (Lorenz curve)

The Gini index is often represented graphically through the Lorenz curve, which shows income (or wealth) distribution by plotting the population percentile by income on the horizontal axis and cumulative income on the vertical axis.

The further a Lorenz curve deviates from the perfectly equal straight line (which represents a Gini coefficient of 0), the higher the Gini coefficient and the less equal the society.

towardsdatascience.com - Clearly Explained: Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve [27 April 2020]

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.2.2 Megacity growth

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• You will need to go back to the urban environments question in May 2018 or further to November 2006 to find a lorenz curve in the DP Geography exam.

Example

Create custom elevation profiles with National Geographic MapMaker Sketch tools

Definition

A [topographical] cross section is a representation of the land surface of an area, showing the elevation and relief of the land in a vertical, or cross-sectional, view. It is typically created using data from topographical surveys. The cross section will typically show the relative elevations of different parts of the land, as well as features such as valleys, hills, rivers, and other physical features.

ChatGPT

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• ee.1.4 Changing distribution of extreme environments over time

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• N22 - Extreme environments

Example

windhistory.com

OpenSkiStats

Transportation Orientations

Definition

A type of chart used in geography to represent the distribution of data in terms of direction or orientation. It is similar to a bar chart, but instead of using bars to represent data, it uses wedges or sectors of a circle to represent the frequency or proportion of data in different directions. The data is usually grouped into a number of categories or bins, with each bin representing a specific range of angles or orientations. The size of each wedge corresponds to the frequency or proportion of data within that bin, while the angle or orientation represents the direction or azimuth of the data.

In geography, what is a rose diagram? - ChatGPT

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• ee.2.1 Glacial landscapes

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• N20 - Extreme environments
• M21 - Geophysical hazards
• N23 - Paper 1 Section B

Example

Definition

A tool that visualises four different factors that are considered crucial for development or for an index. Commonly a development diamond shows how one country (or place) compares to a global average score.

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.3.3 Gender equality policies

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• You need to go back to the November 2005 exam (Paper 1) to find development diamonds used in exams.

Example

State the total amount of carbon dioxide emitted by China and India combined in billions of tonnes.

Definition

The result of adding.

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• M21 - Leisure, tourism and sport

Example

State the median number of visitors, in millions, for the ten major tourist destinations, for 2014.

Definition

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.3.1 Population trends
• 1.3.5 Demographic dividend
• 3.1.2 The growth of the “new global middle class”
• fh.1.3 Global patterns in health indicators

• Students are not allowed to bring a calculator to the DP Geography examination. For this reason, I think it is improbable that students would be asked to calculate a mean.

Used in a recent DP Geography exam?

• M21 - Freshwater [mode]
• N21 - Leisure, tourism and sport [median]

Example

Identify which country has the most buildings between 540m and 700m in height.

Definition

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 2.2.2 Climate change and the incidence and severity of extreme weather events

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• M21 - Freshwater

Example

State the range of the number of international visitors, in millions, for the ten major tourist destinations, for 2014.

Definition

Differences between maximum and minimum.

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.3.2 Ageing societies - Japan
• 2.2.1 Climate change and the hydrosphere and atmosphere

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• M21 - Leisure, tourism and sport
• N21 - Leisure, tourism and sport
• N22 - Oceans and coastal margins

Example

Definition

Density is the number of things—which could be people, animals, plants, or objects—in a certain area.

National Geographic Resource Library

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.1.1 Global population distribution
• 1.1.3 Population distribution and economic development at the national scale

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• Not yet

Example

Definition

A number or ratio expressed as a fraction of 100. For example - India's literacy rate for 2018 was 74.37%, a 5.07% increase from 2011.

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.2.1 Population change and demographic transition over time
• 1.2.2 Megacity growth
• 1.3.1 Population trends
• 1.3.5 Demographic dividend
• 2.2.1 Climate change and the hydrosphere and atmosphere
• 3.1.2 The growth of the “new global middle class”
• 3.1.5 Energy
• fw.3.1 Water scarcity

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• Not yet

Example

Definition

The ratio is defined as the comparison of two quantities of the same units that indicates how much of one quantity is present in the other quantity.

cuemath.com

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 1.2.1 Population change and demographic transition over time
• 1.2.1 Population change and Iceland
• 1.3.1 Population trends
• 3.1.1 Poverty reduction
• fh.1.3 Global patterns in health indicators

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• Not yet

Example

Definition

A method for displaying hierarchical data using nested figures, usually rectangles.

Wikipedia

Used in geographyalltheway.com lessons

• 2.1.3 The enhanced greenhouse effect
• 4.2.1 Global networks and flows - Global trade
• fh.1.4 The disease continuum and the implications of a global ageing population
• fh.3.3 Gender roles related to food and health

Last seen in a DP Geography exam

• Not yet