متوالية لونية بديلة لتمثيل مناسيب سطح الأرض على الخرائط الطبيعية

Abstract EN

Physical maps usually employ a traditional sequence of colors as symbols for portraying land surface elevations.

These colors assign dark green for low areas, then they convert gradually to yellow, orange, and brown colors to represent higher areas.

Many experimental studies proved that these colors do not help map readers to perceive information about land surface elevations.

This study aimed at applying an alternative color gradation depending on color value variation instead of color hues that is employed in the traditional hypsometric maps.

A collection of colored physical maps have been designed for this experimental study.

These maps were presented to 67 volunteer subjects.

They were asked to order the color series as symbols representing map elevations.

Results showed that the traditional method is not effective.

It also showed that employing color value gradations is more appropriate by assigning darker color values for higher areas, and lighter color values for lower areas.

In addition, it was found that applying the gradation of the brown or orange would be more effective than other color hues.

The study did not reveal significant differences between geographers and non-geographers regarding the perception of the connotations of colors which are employed as symbols for portraying land elevations in physical maps.

Finally, the study suggested some cartographic rules for employing colors for portraying land surface elevations.