Topographic Map Skills

1. Topographic Map Skills What other types of information (besides Location) can maps show?

2. Catalyst 1. Jelly Bean Video Reflection: What would you do differently? 2. What method do we use to answer questions in science? 3. THINK: What types of information do we get from maps?

3. Sneak Peek: Unit 1: Geology: Were the continents always in their current positions?

4. FINISH: WORLD MAPS • Be able to locate the 7 continents! • The 5 major oceans! • Which ocean is LARGEST?

5. Latitude and Longitude • Latitude • Influences climate • Latitude = our altitude to Polaris (the North Star) • Longitude • Same longitude experiences the same time (time zones)

6. TIME ZONES What is a time zone? Thought Question: Why do time zones exist? Does the sun RISE and FALL at the same time in all places in the world? Even today (and especially in ancient times, people measured noon by the position of the Sun directly overhead!)

7. Earth rotates on its axis at 15°/hourThe Earth has a total of 360°, 24 time zones as a result of our rotation

8. UNITED STATES TIME ZONES What are the 4 major US time zones? • Eastern • Central • Mountain • Pacific Which one do we live in?

9. WEATHER MAPS: ISOTHERMS Isotherm: lines that connect areas of equal temperatures Iso= equal Therm= temperature (or heat)

10. Vocabulary for Success Iso Isotherm Contour lines Elevation Sea level Contour index Contour interval

11. Isolines • Lines that connect areas of equal value on a map • Iso = equal • Ex) isotherm map

12. Topographic Maps • Globes, projections, & geological maps do not show all the features of the land like rivers, hills, and constructed features. • Topographic maps can show us characteristics of the land • Contour lines on the map show elevation!

13. Contour Lines • Contour line is a specific type of iso-line • Lines that connect points of equal elevation on a map • Elevation = height above sea level • Sea level = average height of all Earth’s oceans

14. Topographic Map What do you notice about this map?

15. Decoding the Map • Map Scale = ratio between distances on a map and actual distances on the surface of Earth (ex. 1: 24,000) • If there were buildings on this map, how big would they be in real life? • Map Legend = explains what the symbols represent on the map

16. Contour Interval Contour interval – distance between contour lines on a map

17. Contour Index • Reference contour line whose elevation is labeled • Think: Index finger 

18. Fast Facts • 1. Closer lines = steeper slope • 2. Depression = hole • 3. Highest elevation of a hill • Find the highest/latest contour line • Highest possible elevation is just below that of the next line

19. Let’s Practice: The Flag RaceContour Interval = 100 feetAt what elevation did I leave my glasses? 500 feet 100 Feet

20. The Flag Race Map 100 feet 500 feet

21. The Flag RaceContour Interval = 100 feet 500 feet Which side of the mountain would you chose to climb up? Why? 100 Feet

22. SLOPE STEEP Less steep

23. The Flag RaceContour Interval = 100 feet 500 feet Which side is less steep? 100 Feet

24. The Flag Race Map Which side is less steep on the map? How can we tell? What does “steepness” look like on the map? 100 feet 500 feet Let’s give these lines a name….

25. So what ARE those Squiggley lines on the map?

26. We call those lines… Contour line = connects points of equal elevation

27. The Flag RaceWhat is the elevation of your forgotten sunglasses? How do you know? We call the spaces between each line, the contour interval. Write your own definition of what “contour interval” means. 500 feet 100 Feet

28. The contour interval is 10… *What is the elevation of the church? *What is the elevation of the school? 240 200

29. The contour interval is 50… *What is the elevation of the church? *What is the elevation of the school? 300ft 100 ft

30. BONUS: The contour interval is 100. The x represents the elevation of the peak. What is the highest possible elevation of the peak? 100 x 500

31. What if we have to figure the contour interval out on our own? • Steps to calculate contour interval • Subtract the elevations of two index contour lines • Countthe number of spaces between two index contour lines • Divide the difference in elevation by the number of spaces between two index contour lines

32. Calculate Contour Interval • Step 1: 800 – 700 = 100 • Step 2: Count spaces: 5 • Step 3: 100/5 = 20 Contour interval = 20!

33. Calculate Contour Intervalon this map

34. PARTNER WORK  • 1. With the person sitting beside you: -Construct a landform out of Play-Doh. -It should include several different elevations. • 2. Draw a contour map of your landform. • 3. Raise your hand – when checked off: • FIND ANOTHER GROUP TO TRADE WITH! Try to construct their landform!

35. Find a line across a contour map • Use a piece of paper to mark off where the contour lines cross the line. • Use the paper as the x-axis of a graph with the y-axis equal to the contour interval • Plot the points and connect them with a smooth line. • A profile shows the side view of a contour map.