1. Austin’s Topography and Geology
ACTIVITY #1:
Austin’s Topography and Geology
How many people learned to read topographic maps in a middle school science class? What is a contour line?

2. Topographic Maps Contour Lines: Connect points of equal elevation
Since lines cannot cross, what’s an example of something that can’t be accurately conveyed in a topo map?
Contour Lines:
Connect points of equal elevation
Cannot cross

3. Topographic Maps Terms to know: Bar scale vs. verbal scale
“__________ inches on the map = 400 feet in the real world”
Distance “as the crow flies” = Straight-line distance
Contour interval: elevation change that occurs between each contour line on a particular map
Relief: in a given area, the topographic relief represents the total change in elevation
Gradient: in a given area, the topographic gradient represents the change in elevation per unit of distance traveled

4. Determining Contour Interval
Count number of contour SPACES between two index contour lines of known elevation  5
Calculate the difference in elevation between the two index contour lines  100
Divide the result of Step #2 by the Result of Step #1
100 / 5 = 20 = contour interval

5. Geologic Maps