Topographic Maps Flashcards
How do map makers represent elevation, relief, and slope?
By surveying and reading contour lines
What is surveying?
Process where map makers determine distances and elevations using instrument and the principles of geometry
What is a Global Positioning System (GPS)
A method of finding latitude, longitude, and elevation of points on Earth’s surface by using a network of satellites
Satellite images
Map showing the surface made up of thousands of tiny dots called pixels
Topographic map
Map showing the surface feature of an area using symbols to portray the land as if you were looking from above
To read a topographic map, you must understand the map’s-
Scale, symbols, and contour lines
Contour lines
Represent elevation, relief and slope and connect points of equal elevation
Contour intervals
Change in elevation from one contour line to another
Index contours
Darker line than the others and are labeled with the elevation above sea level in round units
