Elevation contours are imaginary lines connecting points having the same elevation on the surface of the land above or below a reference surface, which is usually mean sea level Contours make it possible to show the height and shape of mountains, the depths of the ocean bottom, and the steepness of slopes
What do contour lines on a topographic map?
Put simply, contour lines mark points of equal elevation on a map If you trace the length of a line with your finger, each point you touch is the same height above sea level
What is the purpose of contour lines on topographic maps quizlet?
Contour lines are used to show elevation on a topographic map Lines or isolines on a map that connect points with the same elevation
How do contour lines work?
Contour lines connect points that share the same elevation: Where they’re close together (they never intersect), elevation is changing rapidly in short distance and the terrain is steep Where contour lines are wide apart, elevation is changing slowly, indicating a gentle slope
What do contour lines show?
contour line, a line on a map representing an imaginary line on the land surface, all points of which are at the same elevation above a datum plane, usually mean sea level Numbers on the lines give the height in feet (Sea level is zero) Lines drawn closely together indicate that a slope is steep
What is a contour line on a topographic map quizlet?
contour line A contour line on a topographic map connects points of equal elevation
What is a contour interval on a topographic map?
Individual contour lines on a topographical map are a fixed interval of elevation apart known as a contour interval Common contour intervals are 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, or 100 feet The actual contour interval of a map depends upon the topography being represented as well as the scale of the map
What is the purpose of a topographic map quizlet?
A map that shows the shape of the ground as well as location and elevation using lines
When observing contour lines on a topographic map widely spaced lines would indicate that there is?
Contour lines show the elevation of the ground Contour intervals reveal how much vertical distance there is between each contour line Closely spaced contour lines indicate very steep slopes Contour lines that are sharply tapered indicate an uphill direction
What is a contour on a map?
noun a topographic map on which the shape of the land surface is shown by contour lines, the relative spacing of the lines indicating the relative slope of the surface
Why are contour lines used?
In cartography, a contour line (often just called a “contour”) joins points of equal elevation (height) above a given level, such as mean sea level A contour map is a map illustrated with contour lines, for example a topographic map, which thus shows valleys and hills, and the steepness or gentleness of slopes
Why do the contour lines represent?
Contour lines are lines on a map which join places of equal elevation or height, above or below sea level Contour maps and contour lines help us visualise the topography of land, with regards to elevation or height
How do contour lines indicate streamflow on a topographic map?
All rivers flow downhill from higher to the lower elevations, perpendicular to the contour line above it As a rule of thumb, the V-shaped contour is pointing upstream (the opposite direction from the flow of a stream or river) The “V” shape contours indicate streams and drainage
What is a contour line quizlet?
Contour line a line on a map joining points of equal height above or below sea level
What is a contour line in art quizlet?
Contour Lines Lines that surround and define the edges of a subject, giving it shape and volume Lines that define the outer edges of forms and surface within a form, such as shapes, wrinkles, and folds used in contour lines drawing to suggest depth in addition to height and width
What is the space between contour lines called?
The elevation difference between two adjacent contour lines is called the contour interval (CI) Usually the contour interval is noted on the map legend In most topographic maps every 5th contour line is drawn in bold print or wider than other contours
What is shown with the help of contour lines on map answer?
Contour lines show elevation and the shape of the terrain They’re useful because they illustrate the shape of the land surface — its topography — on the map
How must contour lines bend on a topographic map to indicate a stream valley?
A contour line that bends to form a V shape indicates a valley The bend in the V points toward the higher end of the valley; this V points upstream, or in the direction from which the water flows, if there is a stream
What is the one main purpose of a topographic map?
Topographic maps are a detailed record of a land area, giving geographic positions and elevations for both natural and man-made features They show the shape of the land the mountains, valleys, and plains by means of brown contour lines (lines of equal elevation above sea level)
Which statement accurately describes contour lines?
Which statement accurately describes contour lines? Every point between two adjacent contours lines has a value that fits between those two values If the values of the contour lines have been 50′ and 60′, and the next contour line encountered is hachured, what is the value of that line?
What is one of the main purposes of a topographic map hunting?
Topographic maps give the hunter a three-dimensional view of a landscape By illustrating elevation changes, hunters are able to locate peaks, valleys, saddles and slopes—all critical terrain features for locating game
What does contour mean in drawing?
contour drawing, version of outline drawing, in which the artist, looking closely at the contour of an object, transfers it in one continuous line to paper without looking down to see what he is doing, except when he needs to place an internal feature such as an eye
What is contour shading?
Contour drawing is an artistic technique used in the field of art in which the artist sketches the style of a subject by drawing lines that result in a drawing that is essentially an outline (the French word contour meaning “outline”)
Do contour lines point upstream or downstream?
Contour lines “point” upstream when they cross a river or stream The arrow below points to the direction the water flows, which is always downhill If you need help remembering, think of it this way: the contours at a stream or river are in a “V” or “U” shape
What do contour lines spaced widely apart indicate quizlet?
Closely spaced contour lines represent steep slopes, conversely, contour lines that are spaced far apart represent gentle slopes
Why do contour lines never cross on a topographic map?
Contour lines never cross They may come very close to each other (eg along a cliff), but by definition they may never cross each other * This is because one location on the surface of Earth cannot be at two different elevations!