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Office Hours. Tue: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM Wed: 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM & 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM Thr : 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM Course Syllabus can be found at: http://www.wx4sno.com/portfolio/BSU/Fall_2011 / This lecture will be posted AFTER class at:
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Office Hours Tue: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM Wed: 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM & 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM Thr: 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM Course Syllabus can be found at: http://www.wx4sno.com/portfolio/BSU/Fall_2011/ This lecture will be posted AFTER class at: http://www.wx4sno.com/portfolio/BSU/Fall_2011/Lectures/
Lesson 9 Topographic Profiles Hess, McKnight’s Physical Geography, 10 ed. A3-A4
What is a “topographic profile?” • Last week we discussed USGS topographic maps • 3D landscape on a 2D map • Use contour lines to connect equal elevation intervals • This is known as a “plain view” map • A topographic profile is literally a “side view” along a line drawn over the topographic map • They show changes in elevation along a line
Constructing a Topographic Profile • On the topographic map, determine what profile you would like to measure • For this exercise & the homework, this is given as the line segment AB • If a computer program is not available, lay a piece of paper down along line AB • Start from point A: wherever a contour line intersects the edge of the paper, place a short tick mark AND write down the elevation • Continue along the line to point B • Along the way, mark wherever a mountain peak, valley, or stream is located • Also mark any other important features (roads, buildings, etc)
Constructing a Topographic Profile, cont. • Next, transfer your paper with the tick marks, elevation, and features to a chart (will be provided) • Align your writing along the bottom of the chart • Start at point A: transfer your measurements along the X and Y-axis’ moving toward point B. • Connect the dots • Finish by adding the locations of mountain peaks, streams, roads ,etc.
SnowvilleTopo • Using the Snowville topographic map from last week, construct a profile along line AB. • You may use your printout, or come up to the screen • The elevation at point A is 2093 • The elevation at point B is 2085 • Remember to draw both contour lines as “tick marks” AND important features • Once you are done, raise your hand and I will check your work
SnowvilleTopo • Let’s see how our hand-drawn profile compares to a computer-generated image. • http://www.geocontext.org/publ/2010/04/profiler/en/
Vertical Exaggeration • In our previous example, the y-axis intervals were the same as the elevation contours on the Snowville topographic map • In our case, the vertical scale we used matched the horizontal scale • The vertical scale was equal to the graphic scale which was given in the lower-left corner • This brings us to vertical exaggeration
Vertical Exaggeration, cont. • Vertical exaggeration is created to emphasizes differences in elevation and to show relief • e.g., when there is a large amount of V. E., small hills appear to be tall mountain peaks on the graph
Vertical Exaggeration, cont. • To determine the amount of V. E., simply divide the horizontal distance (i.e., the denominator of the fraction/ratio) by the vertical distance 1” represents on the graph
Vertical Exaggeration, con.t • For the Snowville topographic profile: • The scale of the topographic map was ½” = ~500’ • Converting this and you have 1” = ~1000’ • The vertical distance on the graph was • 1” = ~1000’ • Divide the horizontal (scale) distance by the vertical distance: • = 1.0 • Thus the V. E. is 1.0 X (or the same as the horizontal distance)