Geography skills

  • OS map skills

    Revise how to read and understand Ordnance Survey maps with this BBC Bitesize Scotland geography revision guide for Fourth Level in Scotland's CfE.

  • Data shown on maps

    Different maps can show geographical data in different ways. Chloropleth maps use shades of colour to show variations in data over wide areas. Isoline maps join places that share a value. Dot maps can show distribution or density. Proportional symbol maps show different values with changing sizes of circles or other symbols.

  • Data shown on graphs

    Line graphs, bar charts, population pyramids and climate graphs can all be used to present geographical information. It is important to know how to extract and interpret the most useful information from these.

Sustainability

Weather and climate

  • What is weather and climate?

    Weather describes the day-to-day condition of the atmosphere. Climate describes average weather conditions over longer periods and over large areas.

  • Weather in the UK

    The UK's changeable weather is affected by five air masses. Different weather systems, depressions and anticyclones bring different weather conditions.

  • Climate zones of the world

    The Equator is closer to the sun than the poles and receives sunlight more directly and all year round. This results in different climate zones in different parts of the Earth having different climate conditions.

  • Tropical desert regions of the world

    Tropical deserts are hot and dry with summer and winter seasons. They have wide variation in daily temperature. They are home to many different animals and plants that have adapted to survive in the hot, dry conditions.

  • Tropical rainforest regions of the world

    Rainforests are located in the tropical climate region. They are hot and wet all year round – this creates a humid climate. Rainforests contain an enormous variety of plants and animals – approximately 90 per cent of all of the world's species.

  • Tundra regions of the world

    The tundra climate region are found in the Arctic and Antarctic. They are very cold and have little precipitation. Plants and animals have adapted to stay warm and preserve water.