🔍 Key Concepts
• Using a nautical chart to determine bottom characteristics at a specific LAT/LONG position
• Understanding chart abbreviations for seabed types (e.g., M for mud, S for sand, Sh for shells, Cy for clay)
• Identifying the correct chart area for the coordinates 41°12.1'N, 72°43.5'W (which body of water you are in)
💭 Think About
• First, where on the U.S. coast do these coordinates place you, and which large-scale chart would you be using there?
• On that chart, how do you find the exact position, and what symbol or abbreviation is shown for the bottom at that location?
• How do the chart’s bottom-type abbreviations and combinations translate into the wording of the answer choices?
✅ Before You Answer
• Confirm you are reading the correct chart that covers 41°12.1'N, 72°43.5'W
• Verify the exact abbreviation(s) printed at that position (for example: M, S, Sh, Cy, or combinations like MSh, SSh, etc.)
• Match the chart abbreviation meaning precisely to the closest description among the four choices, paying attention to words like hard/soft and the presence of shells, rocks, or clay