Geography Topic
4-figure grid references
- Read notes
- Flashcards
- Quiz
- Confident
Study focus - 3 things
- Eastings come before northings — "along the corridor, then up the stairs"
- A 4-figure grid reference identifies a 1 km × 1 km square
- Use the easting line to the LEFT of the feature, and the northing line BELOW the feature
Section 1What is a grid reference?
A grid reference is a set of numbers that identifies a location on a map. Grid lines split the map into squares, and a 4-figure grid reference points to one 1 km × 1 km square.
Section 2Eastings and northings
Eastings are the vertical grid lines running up and down. Their numbers are read along the bottom (and top) of the map. Northings are the horizontal grid lines running side to side. Their numbers are read along the left (and right) edge of the map.
Section 3Order matters: eastings first
Always read eastings first, then northings. A common memory aid is "along the corridor, then up the stairs." The same idea is sometimes shortened to "EN" — easting before northing.
Section 4How to give a 4-figure reference
Find the easting line directly to the LEFT of the feature and write down its two-digit number. Then find the northing line directly BELOW the feature and write down its two-digit number. Join them together as one four-digit reference. Example: easting 45, northing 67 → 4567.
Examples
A church sits between easting lines 32 and 33, and between northing lines 58 and 59. Give its 4-figure grid reference.
Easting line to the LEFT of the church = 32. Northing line BELOW the church = 58. Combine them: 3258.
A bridge sits between easting lines 07 and 08, and between northing lines 14 and 15. Give its 4-figure grid reference.
Easting LEFT = 07. Northing BELOW = 14. Combine: 0714. Keep the leading zero — every easting and northing is two digits.
Now let's water it
Session runs notes to flashcards to quiz back-to-back.