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Part 1: Develop your topographic map reading skills by working with simplified diagrams that illustrate key elements of topographic maps. Part 2: Practice your map reading skills by interpreting snippets from topographic maps.
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Look at the extract from a simple topographic map featured on the first page of this worksheet. Use it to answer the questions below. 1. How much higher is the land at point D than at point F? How do you know?..... 2. How do you know that Mt Erin is more than 350 m above sea level?..... 3. (a) If you walked from the railway station to Mt Erin ...
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Directions
We are all familiar with the points of the compass (Figure 15.1a), also known as cardinal directions. These allow us to specify general directions, but are insufficient to define specific values. For this we use an azimuth, which is the angle measured clockwise from north (Figure 15.1b). The term bearingis often used synonymously with azimuth, although there are also some other uses of the term, so azimuth will primarily be used here. Therefore, north has an azimuth of 0°, northeast is 45°, e...
Height Datums and Units
When talking about how high a land surface is, we need a reference level, sometimes referred to as the height datum (not to be confused with a geodetic datum, which is an issue that we don’t need to discuss here). Hereafter, we will use the term elevationto define the height above (or, sometimes, below) a height datum. A standard convention in topographic maps is to define elevation relative to the mean sea level (metres above sea level, m a.s.l). In all cases where elevation is involved, be...
Spot Heights and Benchmarks
One of the simplest ways to indicate the elevation of land on a map is to use a spot height, which is simply the elevation of a particular point (e.g. the summit of a hill or mountain). Many spot heights are determined from aerial photographs, rather than being surveyed on the ground. Occasionally, you may also see a benchmark shown on a map. These are points that have been surveyed, perhaps as part of construction projects such as highways or rail lines. Locations that have been surveyed for...
In this lab you will practice 1. Defining direction. 2. Interpreting elevation from contour lines. 3. Calculating slope gradient. 4. Drawing and interpreting topographic profiles. You will need a calculator, plus an internet connection to download a map and access Google Earth. Some of the exercises may be easier if you are able to print the releva...
Figure 15.5 1. Figure 15.5 [PDF] 2. Figure 15.5 [WORD] 3. Figure 15.5 [ODT] Graph paper 1. Lab 15 Graph paper [PDF] Map of Spot Heights at Acme Creek 1. Map of Spot Heights at Acme Creek [PDF] 1. Map of Spot Heights at Acme Creek [WORD] 2. Map of Spot Heights at Acme Creek [ODT]
A topographical map contains curved lines called contour lines. Each contour line corresponds to the points on the map that have equal elevation (Figure 1). A level curve of a function of two variables [latex]f\,(x,\ y)[/latex] is completely analogous to a counter line on a topographical map.
One special kind of map is called a topographic map. It has contour lines to show the shape and elevation of the land. They are sometimes called "level lines" because they show points that are at the same level. Here's how contour lines work: The top of this drawing is a con-tour map showing the hills that are illustrated at the bottom.
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What is a topographic map? what is an isoline or contour line? What type of characteristics does a topographic map show us? If you are wondering about the answers to these questions, you will find them when making a topographic map of a landform you have created. Directions: 1. Using the modeling dough or clay provided, design a landform.
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What is a level curve on a topographical map?
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How are topographic maps able to show three-dimensional objects like hills on a two-dimensional object like a piece of paper? They do it by using contour lines. Contour Lines are curves that connect points of equal elevation. Each contour line on a map has a number that represents the elevation of the line (usually the height above sea level).
