Methods for Creating Comprehensive Regional Atlases of the USSR. Maps of Nature

Summary

This article explores the methods for creating comprehensive regional atlases of the USSR, with a focus on the principles and techniques for designing and producing natural maps. The authors note that the broad development of comprehensive and thematic cartography in recent decades reflects the growing demands of the national economy for thematic maps and comprehensive atlases. In this context, the Faculty of Geography at Moscow State University conducted research in various areas of thematic cartography (geological, soil, climatic, etc.) and worked on creating comprehensive scientific-reference atlases for the Irkutsk and Kustanai regions, providing substantial material for analysis and theoretical generalization. The collection includes articles on methods for developing natural maps for comprehensive atlases, covering general issues of designing and organizing cartographic work, as well as the content and methods for creating specific thematic natural maps or their groups, with emphasis on new or insufficiently developed map types. The article details the organizational principles of atlas editorial work, including the responsibilities of the editorial board, the chief editor, and section editors, and the collaboration with author teams. The main stages of atlas production are outlined: preparatory work, author work, compilation, preparation for publication, and printing. During the preparatory stage, the atlas program, projections, scales, layout, and format are determined, and participating organizations are selected. The choice of scale is critical, with recommended basic scales for different territorial sizes, and the article argues that a uniform scale is impractical; instead, scales should be differentiated based on the significance and complexity of topics. Projection selection must meet measurement accuracy requirements, typically using conic or cylindrical projections. The article also addresses atlas layout design to facilitate comparison of maps at different scales. The latter part focuses on engineering-geological map compilation, emphasizing that classification should be based on the formation principle, reflecting the age, genesis, formation conditions, and occurrence of rocks, with petrographic composition used to determine mechanical, physical, and chemical properties. Map content should include geomorphological features, groundwater distribution patterns, hydrogeological conditions, and physical-geological phenomena such as permafrost and seismicity. Legend design is organized into sections covering rock formations, geomorphology, hydrogeology, and physical-geological phenomena, tailored to regional characteristics. For compilation, it is recommended to use maps from the same atlas, such as geological, tectonic, Quaternary deposit, hydrogeological, and geomorphological maps, and to follow a specific sequence for generalizing and synthesizing elements.