Topographic maps

What is a main feature of topographic maps? Contour lines? or temperature scales?

Contour lines are the main feature of topographic maps. Contour lines are imaginary lines that join points of equal elevation on the land, above or below sea level. So, if contour lines were actually on the Earth's surface and you followed one, you would be neither be going uphill or downhill

What type of lines show a decrease in elevation where there should be an increase? Depression Lines? Increased Lines?

Depression lines are thick lines with tiny perpendicular lines coming out of them. They show where the elevation is decreasing where it should be increasing. For example, like a crater at the top of the volcano. If there were no depression contours the map would look like the volcano was a regular mountain peak.

What are the contour lines that have their elevation on them called? Index Contours? Intermediate Contours?

Index contours have their elevation on them. They are found at equal intervals and help you to determine contour interval and elevation. They occur every four or five lines

What are the lines that don't have elevation identified on them? Intermediate contours? Elevated contours?

Intermediate contours, are lighter and appear more often on the map. The lines in between Index contours are Intermediate contours.

Do depression contour lines tell you that you're going up?

No they tell you that you are going down. decreasing in elevation.

Does a three-dimensional topographic map look like a flat piece of paper?

No. It is a physical model that shows elevation like stairs.

Are all topographic maps flat?

No. Topographic maps can be two dimensional (flat map) or three dimensional (elevated model) On two dimensional maps, contour lines and different colors can show difference in elevation. A three dimensional model's elevation is show by layers or steps, it creates contour intervals, the vertical distance between each layer.

Do topographic maps show the relationship of temperature to the land?

No. Topographic maps show distance relationships and elevation. Topography actually means, "the shape, elevation and slope of the land"

True/False: contour lines make it possible to determine the shape of the land without looking at the actual spot

True. Contour lines allow you to know the elevation and shape of the land without actually being there.

True/False: The erosion of a river on a topographic map shows up as a V

True. It is called the V rule. Streams and rivers dig down as they flow across the land. On a topographic map, the erosion shows up as a V. These V's always point up hill

Is a topographical map used to show the shape of the land?

Yes a topographic map is the two or three dimensional scaled representation of part of Earth's surface, using elevation contour lines to show the shape of the land

Do contour intervals show elevation differences on the map?

Yes, a contour interval is the elevation difference between all lines on a map. Knowing this allows you to know the elevation of any point on a map.

Does each layer on a 3D map represent a different elevation?

Yes. If the contour interval of this map is 10 feet, the first piece (Layer A) represents all of the land that is between sea level (exactly 0 feet), and 10 feet above sea level, but not 0 or 10 feet. The layers represent the area between each layer, but not the exact height of each layer.