Geological Maps in National Atlases

The author reviews the group of geological maps in national atlases, comparing the form and content of geological-stratigraphic, tectonic, mineral-deposits, lithological-petrographic and Quaternary-deposits maps and making recommendations for greater uniformity of such maps in national atlases.     

Population Maps in National Atlases

The author finds that population maps in national atlases should, as a minimum, treat population from four aspects: population numbers and density, geography of settlements, social and economic characteristics, and ethnographic characteristics. He notes that published national atlases generally slight the social and economic aspects in favor of strictly demographic characteristics of population.     

Climate Maps in National Atlases

A complete climate section of a national atlas should contain maps, tables and graphs presenting data on climate-forming factors, the temperature regime, moisture supply, climatic regions and typical weather situations. Published national atlases are analyzed and recommendations for the treatment of climate are made. Particular importance is attached to the integrated presentation of several climatic elements on a single map. The value of climatic maps for various segments of the economy (agriculture, construction, transportation) is emphasized.     

National Atlases

The concept of national atlas is reviewed in light of experience gained since such a specific category of cartographic production was first suggested in 1958 by K. A. Salishchev. On the basis of analysis of the structure and content of 14 atlases, a set of definitions and criteria is drawn up that would qualify an atlas as truly national. Aside from being limited to the territory of a single country, such an atlas should devote roughly 70 to 85 percent of its total space to maps of the physical environment, population and ecomnomy. The atlas content should be on a scholarly level reflecting the state of the art, for use principally as an aid in the evaluation of territory, of the production base and of manpower resources for purposes of economic and social planning. Among the principal map sections, greater weight given to economic maps is justified in highly developed, industrial countries, while more attention to the physical base tends to be given in countries where agriculture is still the basis of the nation's economy. The atlases of Colombia and Kenya devote less than 50 percent of their space to environment, population and economy and therefore would not qualify. Neither, in the author's view, does the atlas of Salvador, which allocates 68 percent of space to agriculture and only 12 percent to the physical base.     

Reviews of Atlases and maps

EUROPE

An Atlas of Edinburgh. Prepared and published by the Geographical Association (Edinburgh Branch). 15 × 10. Pp. 39+5. 10s.

National Atlas of Disease Mortality in the United Kingdom. Prepared by G. M. Howe. 11 ¼ × 6 ¾. Pp. 111. 56 maps and associated commentaries, statistical appendix and administrative overtraces. London and Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd., 1963. 35s.

Oxford Plastic Relief Maps; series 4: maps 8 (Devon), 9 (Cornwall), and 10 (Hampshire).

AFRICA

Nigeria Junior Atlas. Edited by E. E. Soladoye. Ghana Junior Atlas. Edited by E. A. Boateng. Both 11 × 8 ½. Pp. 33. London and Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd., 1965. Nigeria 5s.     

Integrating Landsat and Land Systems for Cover Maps in Southern Inland Queensland

Digital analysis of Landsat data is applied to up-dating land cover maps for the Goondiwindi district of southern, inland Queensland. The imagery was paired with climax cover maps obtained from land systems reports with analysis conducted separately for each of three climax cover types (open forest, woodland and open woodland). Computer classification using this approach produced readily interpreted and reliable results. This work demonstrates that Landsat can be used in conjunction with existing, land systems derived maps to produce data that combine the advantages of two approaches to environmental survey, the former being based on current land cover/land use and the latter on the original environment and its land use potential.     

试论南京国民政府的土地征收制度

土地征收制度是社会经济发展到一定时期的产物,尤其是随着公共利益问题的日益突出而得以产生并逐步完善。我国土地征用制度始于清朝末期,到南京国民政府统治时期,土地征收制度在政策、法律制度和实践中不断得到完善。章在叙述南京国民政府时期土地征收立法概况的基础上,分析了土地征收的目的范围、用途及补偿、程序、审批管理和特点等。     

The Geographical Stage of Preparation of Complex Thematic Atlases

The planning of Soviet complex thematic atlases of particular regions or countries has followed a procedure previously established for general atlases. In view of the different problems involved in the preparation of the two types of atlases, it is suggested that the preparation of thematic atlases be broken down into two distinct phases: a geographical stage, in which geographers would make the principal contribution, and a technical planning stage that would be handled mainly by cartographers. Such a procedure would tend to speed up the production of atlases and to improve their content.     

英藏广州城郊洪兵分布形势图绘制时间再探

英国国家档案馆庋藏的清代广州城郊洪兵分布形势图,对于我们了解广东洪兵起义无疑有着重要的史料价值。通过梳理历史文献记载和舆图所载信息,认为F.O.931/1079号舆图最早应绘制于咸丰四年六月二十四日洪兵进营佛岭市之后,最晚则应在九月初五清军开始反攻之前,最迟也应在九月十二日清军攻占萧岗之前。同时,依据石门"拖船"等信息,则大致可以将绘制时间推至七月三十日之前;F.O.931/1892号舆图应绘制于八月三十日清军稳定近城北郊形势之后,至九月初五日清军开始反攻之前的几天时间之内。     

佛在山水间

在常熟遍访古刹名寺,对于我这个学园林出身的人,是历年来行走江湖中有关寺观园林的现场写生实录版了。 漫步在春目的深山嶝岩之下,体味禅意盎然的“无人之境”,呈现了天地间的白云幽石、青山绿水、乌语花香、清风明月、池泉古寺等自由清静的形象,其中隐隐然皆有佛在,可说是以佛对山水,以禅悟天地,亦即所谓“青青翠竹,总是法身;郁郁黄花,无非般若,真是合了庄子的”山林与,皋壤与,使我欣欣然而乐与”的境界。     

Stamped Signs on Manuscript Maps in the Renaissance

Abstract

The cordiform projection employed by Oronce Fine, Gerard Mercator and Abraham Ortelius may have had a hermetic meaning. The focus in this paper is on Ortelius, for recent studies have suggested connections between Ortelius, Christopher Plantin and a clandestine religious sect in Antwerp, called the Family of Love (Family of Charity), whose emblem was the heart, source of divine illumination and of Free Will. It is argued that Ortelius's contemporaries in the radical religious circles of northern Europe would have perceived the Theatrum orbis terrarum in such a light. As Guillaume Postel's evaluation of Ortelius's work demonstrates, the atlas was considered a talismanic book based on the power of the images.     

The Study of Local Waters in the Deserts of the USSR

A review of potential local fresh-water sources in the deserts for the use of livestock herds, herders' settlements, and extractive and other industrial enterprises. One of the most promising approaches is held to be the use of takyrs [clay pans] as catchment areas for ephemeral runoff of precipitation, which is then directed into natural aquifers or artificial underground storage cisterns. Another potential source of water is large perched ground-water lenses that could be tapped by paired wells to prevent the intrusion of salt water from below. Artesian waters in the desert which are far from areas of recharge are found to be largely saline.