Rule 1 – every point of a contour line has the same elevation. Rule 2 – contour lines separate uphill from downhill. Rule 3 – contour lines do not touch or cross each other except at a cliff. Rule 4 – every 5th contour line is darker in color.
Table of Contents
What is a topographic map simple definition?
Topographic maps are a detailed record of a land area, giving geographic positions and elevations for both natural and man-made features. They show the shape of the land the mountains, valleys, and plains by means of brown contour lines (lines of equal elevation above sea level).
What are the main features of a topographic map?
What are the physical features of topographic map? A topographic map is a detailed and accurate illustration of man-made and natural features on the ground such as roads, railways, power transmission lines, contours, elevations, rivers, lakes and geographical names.
Why is topographic map important?
Topographic maps give the user the ability to view a three-dimensional landscape on a two-dimensional map. One who is able to read a topo map can identify the elevation and location of valleys, peaks, ridges, and other land features.
What are the 6 rules for topographic map?
- Rule 1: Slope. The closer the lines are, the steeper the slope.
- Rule 2: Flow and Source of a River/Stream.
- Rule 3: Mountains and Hills.
- Rule 4: Highest possible elevation of a hill/mountain.
- Rule 5: Depressions.
- Rule 6: Lowest possible elevation of a depression.
What are the 5 basic colors used on a topographic map?
Red for highway classifications, built-up areas, fence lines, and U.S. Public Land Survey lines. Green for areas of woodland, scrub, orchards, and vineyards. Brown for topographic features, including contour lines. Purple for photorevised data, not field checked, consisting of a variety of added features.
How does a topographic map work?
A topographic map illustrates the topography, or the shape of the land, at the surface of the Earth. The topography is represented by contour lines, which are imaginary lines. Every point on a particular contour line is at the same elevation. These lines are generally relative to mean sea level.
What does a topographic map show quizlet?
Topographic Map. shows the surface features, or topography of Earth or a certain area.
How do you explain topography?
- Topography is the study of the forms and features of land surfaces.
- Topography is a field of geoscience and planetary science and is concerned with local detail in general, including not only relief, but also natural and artificial features, and even local history and culture.
What are two important uses of topographic maps?
Topographic maps represent the Earth’s features accurately and to scale on a two- dimensional surface. Topographic maps are an excellent planning tool and guide and, at the same time, help make outdoor adventures enjoyable and safe.
What are 5 uses of topographic map?
Of course, topographic maps are used for recreational purposes, such as travelling, hiking and orienteering, but they are also used by government and industry to assist with urban planning, mining, emergency management and the establishment of legal boundaries and land ownership.
What are the symbols on a topographic map?
Topographic maps use symbols to represent natural and human constructed features found in the environment. The symbols used to represent features can be of three types: points, lines, and polygons. Points are used to depict features like bridges and buildings.
Who might use a topographic map?
Who uses topography maps? Hikers, campers, snow skiers, city and county planners, the Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, miners, loggers, highway planners and construction workers, travelers, surveyors, geologists, engineers, and scientists are just a few of the people who use topographic maps.
How do you identify landforms on a topographic map?
Landforms are identified on a topographic map by using contour lines. Contour lines are lines on the map that join points of equal elevation; one contour line indicates the exact same elevation. Each contour line that stands for an exact elevation will not cross another contour line of a different elevation.
How are topographic maps created?
Historically, USGS topographic maps were made using data from primary sources including direct field observations. Those maps were compiled, drawn, and edited by hand. By today’s standards, those traditional methods are very expensive and time-consuming, and the USGS no longer has funding to make maps that way.
What are the five important rules for contour lines?
- Contour lines always separate points of higher elevation (uphill) from lower elevation (downhill).
- Contour lines never cross or intersect.
- Contour lines never split or divide.
- Contour lines always close to form a shape, usually an irregular circle.
How do you analyze a topographic map?
How do you find elevation on a topographic map?
You can figure out the elevation of any point by finding the nearest labeled line, counting the number of lines above or below it, multiplying by the contour interval, and adding or subtracting the result from the nearest marked contour line. The more closely spaced the contour lines, the steeper the slope.
What are 3 types of contour lines?
There are 3 kinds of contour lines you’ll see on a map: intermediate, index, and supplementary. Index lines are the thickest contour lines and are usually labeled with a number at one point along the line.
What does GREY mean in maps?
White roads = Normal streets. Yellow roads = Main streets/roads. Orange roads = Highways. Very light gray = Normal areas (houses, buildings, etc) Green = Parks.
What does white represent on topographic map?
White: Sparse or no vegetation. Basically, it indicates any landscape feature except for trees or water, including desert, grass, sand, rocks, boulders, and so on. Purple: Revisions that have been made to a map using aerial photos.
How do you read contour lines on a topographic map?
- Index lines are the thickest contour lines and are usually labeled with a number at one point along the line.
- Intermediate lines are the thinner, more common, lines between the index lines.
- Supplementary lines appear as dotted lines, indicating flatter terrain.
How do you identify a hill on a topographic map?
Rule 1: Lines connect points of equal elevation. You go uphill or downhill when you travel from one line to another. The closer the lines are to each other, the steeper the hill. Note how close together the contour lines of Baldy Mountain are on the map and how steep it is in the photo.
What is the scale of topographic map?
For USGS topographic maps, 1:24,000 is the scale most often used. Maps based on metric units use a scale of 1:25,000, where one centimeter equals 0.25 kilometers. You’ll find most of the United States mapped at the 1:24,000 scale, with only a few exceptions.
Does a topographic map Show temperature?
Other commonly used contour maps include weather maps showing temperature values as bands of color (temperature lines are called isotherms) or barometric pressure as contour lines (called isobars). The map shown above is a contour map of small changes in gravity values in southeastern Kansas.