1. Objective: Interpret topographic maps.
Topography
Objective: Interpret topographic maps.

2. TOPOGRAPHY
THE STUDY OF THE SHAPES AND FEATURES OF THE EARTH’S SURFACE.

3. TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
SHOWS THE THREE DIMENSIONAL SHAPE AND ELEVATIONS OF AN AREA OF LAND IN TWO DIMENSIONS

5. ELEVATION
HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL

6. Label the contour lines on your map.
LINE THAT CONNECTS PLACES ON A TOPOGRAPHIC MAP THAT ARE ALL AT THE SAME ELEVATION (eventually a closed loop)
Label the contour lines on your map.
Contour line

8. Label the contour line interval on your map.
THE VERTICAL DIFFERENCE IN ELEVATION BETWEEN NEIGHBORING CONTOUR LINES
Label the contour line interval on your map.
contour line interval

9. CONTOUR INTERVALS

10. INDEX CONTOURS

11. RELIEF
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HIGHEST ELEVATION POINT AND THE LOWEST ELEVATION POINT ON A MAP
200
300
400
Units = feet
What is the relief of this map?
What is the contour interval of this map?

12. TOPOGRAPHIC MAP RULES
CONTOUR LINES ARE CLOSELY SPACED ON STEEP SLOPES.
CONTOUR LINES ARE WIDELY SPACED ON GENTLE SLOPES.

13. LINES CLOSE TOGETHER - STEEPER LINES SPACED OUT - < STEEP
Contour lines
LINES CLOSE TOGETHER - STEEPER
LINES SPACED OUT - < STEEP

14. Topographic Map Rules
WHERE A CONTOUR LINE CROSSES A STREAM OR VALLEY, THE CONTOUR LINE BENDS TO FORM A “V” THAT POINTS UPSTREAM.
In the upstream direction, the successive contours represent higher elevations.

15. OTHER FEATURES

17. Topographic Map Rules
CONTOUR LINES NEAR THE TOP OF A HILL FORM CLOSED, CIRCULAR SHAPES.
The top of the hill is higher than the highest closed contour line.

18. Topographic Map Rules
DEPRESSIONS WITHOUT OUTLETS ARE SHOWN BY CLOSED HATCHED CONTOURS. The contour lines have short lines on the inside that are pointing down slope. The bottom of the depression is lower than the lowest closed contour line.

19. DEPRESSION RINGS W/ SHORT LINES POINTING CENTER

20. Rings w/ short lines pointing center = DEPRESSION
Map Rules
Contour lines do not cross – height interval changed evenly
Index contour = 5th line
CLOSE spaced contour lines = STEEP slope
200
WIDE spaced contour lines = GENTLE slope
250
DOTTED lines = river
Rings w/ short lines pointing center = DEPRESSION
Series of concentric rings = rise in elevation

22. Satellite Map
A MAP MADE OF PICTURES OF THE EARTH TAKEN FROM A SATELLITE ORBITING THE EARTH.
Andes Mountains Satellite Image:
Satellite orbiting planet:

23. Aral Sea in central Asia