topochris

Measuring Earth

Notes: Pages 3

-

9

Earth’s Spheres

Information regarding

Earth’s

atmosphere

can be found on page

of the ESRTs

Earth’s Spheres

Information regarding

Earth’s

interior

can be found on page

of the ESRTs

Earth’s Spheres

Information regarding

Earth’s

hydrosphere

can be found on page

of the ESRTs

What do

hachured

lines show?

What are the rules
concerning hachured
lines?

What are the steps to draw a
topographic profile

place a piece of paper between the points

mark where every contour line
touches the edge of the paper

determine the elevation of each mark

place the paper on the graph and mark the
elevation of each contour line

Using the map and chart below,

construct a topographic map profile.

Please match the contour map on the left with the profile on the right.

The elevation of Albany is 282 feet.
The elevation at Binghamton is 1634 feet.
Calculate the gradient to the nearest tenth
of a ft/mi. Show all work.

gradient = change in elevation
distance

= 1634-282
115 miles
= 1352 ft
115 miles

= 11.8 ft/mile

The elevation of Watertown is 99m.
The elevation at Oswego is 144m.
Calculate the gradient to the nearest tenth
of a m/km. Show all work.

gradient = change in elevation
distance
= 144 - 99
75 km
= 45 m
75 km

= 0.6 m/km

If the distance between
the two
circled cities is 425 km,
calculate the temperature
gradient to the nearest
hundredth?
Show all work.

gradient = change in temperature
distance
= 82-48
425
= 34
425
= 0.08 °F/km

Topographic Maps

Spring Lake, Macomb, IL

What if my contour lines are close

together?



If the contour lines are close

together, then that indicates that

area has a steep slope.

What if my contour lines are far

apart?



If the contour lines are far apart,

then that indicates the land has a

gentle slope (low slope).

Let’s take a walk up a hill!

We’re now at an elevation of 100

meters.

100m

Let’s keep going!

100m

Now we’re at 200m.

100m

200m

Shall we march on?

100m

200m

We’ve made it to 300m!

100m

200m

300m

On to the peak!

100m

200m

300m

We’re on the peak, but what’s our

elevation?

100m

200m

300m

Any ideas?

100m

200m

300m

Let’sadd contour lines for every 50 meters and see if that
helps.

100m

200m

300m

We know that we are above 350m, but less than 400m.

50m

150m

250m

350m

Contour lines

Relationship between topographic features and contour lines

Title and Location

MAP TITLE

Title and Location

QUADRANGLE LOCATION

Map design

Other Information

Map Scale

A means of showing the relationship between the
size of an object or feature indicated on a map and
the actual size of the object on the ground.

Scale is expressed as a ratio, such as 1:24,000 (i.e. 1
unit on the map equal 24,000 units on the ground)
and shown graphically by Scale bars marked in feet
and miles or meters and kilometers.

Definition

Scale

1:24,000 scale

1:100,000 scale

1:125,000 scale

Decreasing Detail
Increasing Coverage

More than Contours



Symbols represent features such as

streets, buildings, streams, and

vegetation



Blue lines/shapes

-

represent water

features, such as streams and lakes.



Brown

–

contour lines



Black

–

Roads, buildings, railroads,

other man made objects.



Green

–

Woodland areas



Red

-

Highways

Legend