Learning Objective 5

Topographic Maps...

What is a Topographic map...?

A topographic map is a map that presents a certain location with a view from above the Earth's surface. This type of detailed map uses features such as contour lines, heights, depths, intervals, and gradients in order to represent what is on the Earth's surface.

Contour lines...

Contour lines are used to represent any type of three-dimensional surface onto a two-dimensional space. The lines show the different levels of elevation once the distance between each line is determined, eventually forming the big picture which is the actual shape of the land. These lines are curved, straight or a mix of both lines however, they do not cross each other on a map.

Here we have the top view and the side view of the contour lines.

Gradients...

The gradient is the distance that we have from one point to another. With the distances, we are able to determine the elevation of the slope of that specific spot presented on the map.

By determining the distance between X and Y we can find the gradient of that specific slope.

Intervals...

The space in between two contour lines is called an interval. The shapes of the contour lines and the intervals are used to indicate the shape of the land mass it represents.

Depending on how close or how far the interval is between each contour line we are able to calculate the steepness at which the slope stands. The closer the contour lines are, the steeper the slope is.

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