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    Topographic Maps

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    shucayb cabdi
    Topographic maps provide elevation information about land using contour lines, which are lines connecting points of equal elevation, allowing readers to determine slopes, valleys, and peaks. Contour lines are spaced closer together in steep areas and farther apart in more gentle slopes. Topographic maps are useful for activities like hiking, camping, and search and rescue operations as they provide elevation data that can help navigate terrain.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Topographic Maps

    Uploaded by

    shucayb cabdi
    58 views15 pages
    Topographic maps provide elevation information about land using contour lines, which are lines connecting points of equal elevation, allowing readers to determine slopes, valleys, and peaks. Contour lines are spaced closer together in steep areas and farther apart in more gentle slopes. Topographic maps are useful for activities like hiking, camping, and search and rescue operations as they provide elevation data that can help navigate terrain.

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    topomap

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    Topographic maps provide elevation information about land using contour lines, which are lines connecting points of equal elevation, allowing readers to determine slopes, valleys, and peaks. Contour lines are spaced closer together in steep areas and farther apart in more gentle slopes. Topographic maps are useful for activities like hiking, camping, and search and rescue operations as they provide elevation data that can help navigate terrain.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    58 views15 pages

    Topographic Maps

    Uploaded by

    shucayb cabdi
    Topographic maps provide elevation information about land using contour lines, which are lines connecting points of equal elevation, allowing readers to determine slopes, valleys, and peaks. Contour lines are spaced closer together in steep areas and farther apart in more gentle slopes. Topographic maps are useful for activities like hiking, camping, and search and rescue operations as they provide elevation data that can help navigate terrain.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 15

    Topographic Maps

    Daryl Knauss
    RRHS
    2009
    Why?
    • A topographic map looks very much like a normal
    road map except it provides information about
    the elevation of the land
    • Topographic maps are useful to many different
    people from the earth scientist, to the
    camper/hiker, to search and rescue personnel.
    • GPS (global positioning satellite) units are helpful
    as they provide your location and the topographic
    information, but they are limited by the size of
    the screen you use.
    Contour Lines
    • Contour lines are points of equal elevation on
    a topographic map
    • The lines are generally colored brown (for
    land) and blue (for water).
    • Index contours- every fifth line that is
    darkened (usually are numbered)
    • Elevation- height above sea level (in feet)
    Rules of Contour Lines

    • 1) Where a contour line crosses a stream or


    valley, the contour bends to form a "V" that
    points upstream.

    River Flow
    • 2) Contours near the upper parts of hills form
    closures. The top of a hill is higher than the
    highest closed contour.
    • 3) Hollows (depressions) without outlets are
    shown by closed, hachured contours
    (depression contours). Hachured contours are
    contours with short lines on the inside
    pointing down slope. The bottom of the
    hollow is lower than the lowest closed
    contour. The value of the first hachured
    contour is equal to the closest contour line.
    Depressions
    Occur when a hole or pit is
    found in the middle of a
    relatively flat area
    Depressions
    • Notice that the first hachured mark has the
    same elevation as the closest contour line.
    This mark shows the edge of the depression.
    • 4) Contours are widely spaced on gentle
    slopes.
    • 5) Contours are closely spaced on steep
    slopes.
    • 6) Evenly spaced contours indicate a uniform
    slope.
    Determining Elevation
    • Only every fifth line on a topographic map has
    an elevation written on it. The other line
    values must be determined by using a contour
    interval.
    • Contour Interval- the difference in elevation
    from one contour line to the next
    200

    100

    10

    0
    • 7) Contours do not cross or intersect each
    other, except in the rare case of an
    overhanging cliff.
    • 8) All contours eventually close, either on a
    map or beyond its margins.
    Sample Topographic Map
    • 9) A single higher elevation contour never
    occurs between two lower ones, and vice
    versa. A change in slope direction is always
    determined by the repetition of the same
    elevation either as two different contours of
    the same value or as the same contour
    crossed twice.
    210

    200

    200

    210
    Other Map Features
    • Benchmark- a location where the elevation
    and location is precisely known.

    X BM702 or BM 702

    Benchmarks are often used by surveyors so


    that they can determine property lines,
    locations of roads, etc. They also can be found
    on the top of mountain peaks.
    Map Scale
    • The scale of a map is represented by either a
    fraction or a ratio. A map ratio of 1:100 means
    that 1 cm on a map is equal to 100 cm of length
    in “real life”. A “verbal scale” is where you provide
    a measurement and show it equal to another (i.e.
    one inch = 1 mile)
    • Large Scale- if the size ratio is small, it is
    considered a “Large Scale” map. (1:24,000 (R.R.))
    • Small Scale- if the size ratio is large, it is
    considered a “Small Scale” map.(1:41849600
    (globe))
    Map Scale (continued)
    • Think of map scales in terms of fractions.

    1/5th of something is larger than 1/10th !

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