Topography Skills Flashcards
What does the contour represent?
The lay of the land.
How is relief shown on a contour map?
Using contour lines.
What are the three methods used to show relief?
- Contour lines
- Spot heights
- Shading
What do spot heights indicate?
The exact altitude above sea level.
What is a contour?
A line that joins points of equal elevation.
What is a contour interval?
The vertical distance between contour lines.
Fill in the blank: A _______ is a line that joins points of equal elevation.
[contour]
Fill in the blank: The vertical distance between contour lines is known as the _______.
[contour interval]
What do contour lines close together show?
steep slopes
what do contour lines far apart show?
gentle slopes
what do contour lines evenly spaced show?
uniform slope
How do we know if the slope is convex?
If the spacing decreases
when going from high to low,
the slope is convex
How do we know if the slope is concave?
If the spacing increases
when going from high to low,
the slope is concave
How are hills represented on a topographic map?
Hills are represented on a
topographic map by a series of
concentric contour lines in a
rough circle
What is the degree representation for North?
0/360
What is the degree representation for South?
180
What is the degree representation for East?
90
What is the degree representation for West?
270
What is a bearing simply?
Simply, a bearing is an angle
What is a bearing complicated?
It is the angle measured clockwise from a fixed zero line, generally north.
What are 3 points about cardinal direction?
- compass points
- 32 in total,
- only 16 are used
In words, what is 1:10?
For every 10 metres you travel across you are going up 1 metre.
What is 1:1?
a 45 degrees
What is gradient?
A method of expressing ground slope
How do you calculate local relief?
Local relief is calculated by finding the difference in
height between the highest and lowest points along
an entire journey
What is Aspect?
Aspect is the direction that a feature such as a slope
or building faces
How do you find the rise in “rise over run”?
Height of point A - point B
How do you find the run in “rise over run”?
distance on map multiplied by the map scale
What does the top number in rise over run always have to be?
1
