Contour the Amazing Knuckle Range

Topography, it's one of my favorite words. It means, "The art of graphically representing on a map the exact physical configuration of a place or a region." Nothing like a good dictionary definition to clear up any confusion. Simply put, to display something topographically means to show the high parts, the low parts, and the parts in between all on a flat piece of paper. Easier said than done. This GeoLab will show you how contour lines are used on maps to show us how flat or steep terrain is and what that terrain's relative elevation is.

Here's How it works:

Take a look at the picture of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park below on the left.

Download the above map in pdf format by clicking on the link HERE.

The terrain of Yosemite it quite varied. There are flat places (the Valley floor), steep places (the cliff faces), and many places somewhere in between these two. Also, just to the right of the picture is a map of the same area. The red line represents the sight line of the photograph (Columbia Point to Half Dome). If I was to walk directly along that sight line I would drop straight down to the valley floor, stay flat for a while,begin to climb a little, drop back down, begin to climb steeply, and then climb literally straight up, exactly as the elevation profile shows at the bottom of the map. As you follow the red line across the map you will notice that you are continually crossing over a series of brown lines. These are called contour lines, the closer together they appear, the steeper the terrain, the farther apart they are the flatter the terrain. If you need a clearer version of the map so this is easier to see, download the PDF version and look at it at 200%.

Another way to understand contour lines is to consider the landform below. It is an example of the kind of landform you will make for this GeoLab. The top picture shows the mountain from directly overhead, the picture below is a side view, otherwise known as an elevation. On each level of the mountain at the outside edge I have drawn the contour line for that elevation so that when you look down on it from above (the view you have when looking at a topographic map) you can get an idea of the topography without having a 3 dimensional representation of it.

Here's What You'll Need:

• Two felt tip markers that will wash off, one black and one blue.
• 8 to 12 Styrofoam meat trays from your local supermarket.
• One black permanent marker
• One large pair of scissors
• Some white glue
• Some plain white art paper
• A good sharp pencil
• A straight pin with a small flag attached to the head (for the summit of your mountain).

The Assignment

For the first part of this GeoLab assignment you will make a contour map on your own hand. If you are right handed your map will be made on your left hand, if your left handed it will be on your right hand.

Contour the Amazing Knuckle Range

The first thing you need to do is take a shower because you can't wash your map off until Mr. Dresel sees it. Sit down at a table with the black felt tip washable marker. Make a fist with your non-writing hand and place it on the table with your knuckles facing up. You are looking down on your very own mountain range, each knuckle is a little peak. Use the marker to draw contour circles around the surface of your mountain range (see picture). Try to keep every part of each line (they will be circles) the same distance from the table (flat). Go as far down as your wrist and 2nd knuckle. Put a small triangle at the highest point, use a blue marker and make rivers in the canyons between your fingers. Now take your hand and flatten it out - here's your contour map. Make a fist and you have the real shape again. Click on the link below to get the sign-off form, show your parent/guardian your map and have them sign the form then bring the form into Mr. Dresel with your map! and he will sign it as well.

Make Your Own Land form and Contour Map

For part 2 of this GeoLab your will need to make your own land form and contour map that goes with it. Here's what to do:

Gather together the meat trays that you have been collecting, cut off the sides of the trays so you end up with flat pieces of Styrofoam. Using the largest piece of Styrofoam cut out a shape that will be the first level of your land form. Each following level will be slightly smaller than the last. You can make your land form as tall as you want. The trick is to map each level before you attach it to the land form. After you cut out the base piece use your sharp pencil to outline the piece on the white art paper. Next, cut out the next level of your land form (slightly smaller than the first one), place it inside the outline on the white art paper and outline it's shape with your pencil then glue this level on top of the first level. Follow this same procedure for every level of your land form. When you are finished you will have a land form similar to the one pictured above and a contour map that matches it exactly. Give each contour line an elevation and name your land form.

Turning in your GeoLab #3

To turn in your completed GeoLab gather together the following items:

• your hand with your map drawn on it.
• your Contour the Amazing Knuckle Range sign-off sheet.
• your contour map on paper.
• your constructed landform.

Make sure your name is on each one and bring them into school and turn them into Mr. Dresel.

Download the Contour Sign-off Form