Contour lines and landscapes (Science)

How to determine gradient

-dividing the relief (rise or fall) between two points on the map by the distance (run) between them (expressed as a fraction in feet per miles or meters per kilometer)

Gradient

-measure of the steepness of a slope

Regional relief

-total relief -difference in elevation between the highest and lowest points on a topographic map

A map with a contour interval of 20m has drawn at

0m,20m,40m,and so on

General characteristics of topographic maps

1. contour lines do not cross each other, divide, or split 2. closely spaced contour lines represent steep slopes, conversely contour lines that are spaced far apart represent gentle slopes 3. Contour lines trend up valleys form a V or a U where they cross a stream

Contour intervals of a map is usually given

In or near the maps legend

Elevation

Is the height of an object above the surface of the sea

Sea Level is

Sea level is 0 meters. Sea level is niether positive nor negative

What is the contour interval based on

The relief in the area

What types of relief and contour intervals do plains have

They have low relief and usually small contour intervals

True or False: Isolines are always closed lines

True

Contour lines that cross a valley or stream are

V-Shaped

Each contour line represents

a certain elevation

Contour lines that are far apart show

a gentle slope

Contour lines that are close together show

a steep slope

Why do contour lines at different heights not cross each other?

all points on a single contour line are at the same height

water on a top map

blue

Isolines

connects points of equal value

Contour lines never

cross

All points on a contour line stop at the same

elevation

Each contour line shows a different

elevation

Contour lines are used to show

elevation of a topographic map are lines that connect

Vegetation on a topo map

green

What types of relief and contour intervals do mountains have?

high relief and large contour intervals

Depression Ring

inner ring indicates a depression (lowest elevation) which the map will show with a series of small tick marks pointing towards the center -closed loops without hachures are always uphill on the inside and downhill on the outside --> this means hills and mountains will appear on the map as a cluster of concentric O shapes

Isolines are drawn at

regular intervals -i.e. every 5 degrees of temperature difference

Depressions are marked with

short, straight lines inside the circle

A topographic map is a map that shows (4 things)

surface features of an area,natural features,man-made features,and elevation

Slope

the amount of rise or fall of a surface

The direction the V points toward determines

the area of higher elevation or upstream

The depression lines point toward

the center of depressions

The diffrence between any 2 countour lines is called

the contour interval

Relief

the difference in elevation between land forms, specific points, or other features on a landscape or map

Contour interval

the elevation between any two adjacent contour lines of different elevation on a topographic map - often every 5th contour line is heavier so that you can count by 5 times the contour interval

The space between contour line depends on

the slope of the ground

What do close closed circles represent

the top of hills, mountains, and depresions

When isolines are far apart -

they show a gradual horizontal change

When isolines are close together -

they show a rapid horizontal change

Index lines

thickest contour lines, usually labeled with a number at one point along the line -tells you elevation above sea level

The apex of the V always points

upstream

Isoline trends

value difference between any 2 consecutive isolines