Topographic Maps

1. Topographic Maps

2. A topographic map shows the shape of the Earth’s surface features by using contour lines.

3. Represented by the smallest circles, the tops of the mountains/hills.

4. Height above a given area; most maps use sea level as a reference point.

5. A cross sectional view along a line drawn through a portion of the Earth.

6. Imaginary lines that join points of equal elevation above or below sea level. • The closer the lines, the steeper the mountain.

7. The differencein elevation represented by each contour line.

8. A contour line accentuated by a heavier line weight to distinguish it from other contour lines.

9. The representation of the shapes of hills, valleys, streams, or terrain features. • Rivers form a ‘V’ on a topographic map. • If the contour lines point up the slope it’s a valley, if they point down the slope it’s a ridge.

10. Let’s take a walk up a hill!

11. We’re now at an elevation of 100 meters. 100m

12. Let’s keep going! 100m

13. Now we’re at 200m. 200m 100m

14. Shall we march on? 200m 100m

15. We’ve made it to 300m! 300m 200m 100m

16. On to the peak! 300m 200m 100m

17. We’re on the peak, but what’s our elevation? 300m 200m 100m

18. Any ideas? Let’sadd contour lines for every 50 meters and see if that helps. 300m 200m 100m

19. We know that we are above 350m, but less than 400m. 350m 300m 250m 200m 150m 100m 50m

20. Let’s head down the hill, it’s getting late! 350m 300m 250m 200m 150m 100m 50m

21. Now what’s our elevation? If you said somewhere between 200m and 250m you are right! 350m 300m 250m 200m 150m 100m 50m

22. Let’s try this again! 350m 300m 250m 200m 150m 100m 50m

23. What’s our elevation now? If you said 50m or just under, you’re right! 350m 300m 250m 200m 150m 100m 50m

24. Let’s now look at the same hill, but the way we might see it from an airplane!

25. Each color change represents a 50 meter increase.

26. Now, let’s try the same hike! Our elevation is 0 meters.

27. Now what is our elevation?

28. If you said more than 150 meters, but less than 200 meters your right!

29. Let’s go a little higher.

30. Think you know our elevation now? More than 300meters But less than 350meters

31. If we were standing on the peak, what would be our elevation? • More than 350 meters, less than 400 meters

32. Let’s head down hill.

33. Know our elevation?

34. More than 100 meters, less than 150 meters

35. I think you’ve got it!

36. Let’s see what you can do! Cut them out, glue them on the same page, and answer!

37. 540 m 550 m 530 m 510 m 560 m Question 1 510 m 530 m 540 m 540 m 550 m 530 m • First, figure out the contour interval. • 10 m • Second, label the contour lines. • Third, answer question 1. • 550m

38. 540 m 550 m 530 m 510 m 560 m Question 2 510 m 530 m 540 m 540 m 550 m 530 m • Now that you have your contour lines labeled, the rest of the questions will be simple. • Answer question 2. • 560 m

39. 540 m 550 m 530 m 510 m 560 m Question 3 510 m 530 m 540 m 540 m 550 m 530 m • To answer question 3, you must first find the elevation of C and D. • Position C is ______. • 560 m • Position D is ______. • 550 m • Therefore, Position ___ has a higher elevation. • Position C

40. 540 m 550 m 530 m 510 m 560 m Question 4 510 m 530 m 540 m 540 m 550 m 530 m • This will be easy because we figured this out in Question 1. • The contour interval is __. • 10 m

41. 540 m 550 m 530 m 510 m 560 m Question 5 510 m 530 m 540 m 540 m 550 m 530 m • To answer question 5 we must first figure out the elevation of Positions A and B. • Position A is ____. • 500m • Position B is ____. • 550m • So the change, difference, is ___. • 550m-500m = 50m

42. 540 m 550 m 530 m 510 m 560 m Question 6 510 m 530 m 540 m 540 m 550 m 530 m • First we must figure out the elevation of Positions C and D. • Position C is ____. • 560m • Position D is ____. • 550m • Net change means what the difference between the two. • 560m-550m = 10m

43. Erosion from a stream or river caused the ‘V’ shape on the side of the mountain.

44. Quiz Time Number 1-6 in your notebook and write your answers to the following questions. Ready?

45. 1. Could the elevation at the peak (B) be 1410 meters? E C D B 1200m F 1000m A 800m 400m 600m

46. 2. What is the elevation at (E)? E C D B 1200m F 1000m A 800m 400m 600m

47. 3.What is the elevation difference between (A) and (B)? E C D B 1200m F 1000m A 800m 400m 600m

48. 4. Could the elevation at (F) be 417 meters? E C D B 1200m F 1000m A 800m 400m 600m

49. 5. If you walked a straight line from (D) to (C) would you walk over a ridge or down a valley? E C D B 1200m F 1000m A 800m 400m 600m

50. 6.Just looking at the map, would it be easier to head down from the peak going East, or going North? N E C D B W E 1200m F 1000m A 800m 400m 600m S