Contour Lines: Contour lines are used to determine elevations and are lines on a map that are produced from connecting points of equal elevation (elevation refers to height in feet, or meters, above sea level).
Do contour lines show elevation on topographic maps?
A topographic map illustrates the topography, or the shape of the land, at the surface of the Earth. The topography is represented by contour lines, which are imaginary lines. Every point on a particular contour line is at the same elevation . ... Contour lines are generally illustrated as a brown line.
Do contour lines show elevation?
A contour line is a line drawn on a topographic map to indicate ground elevation or depression . A contour interval is the vertical distance or difference in elevation between contour lines.
In other words, contour lines connect points of equal elevation . By definition, contour lines separate points of higher elevation from points of lower elevation. This means it is always possible to define an “uphill” direction on one side of a contour and a “downhill” direction on the other side.
What are 3 types of contour lines?
Contour lines are of three different kinds. They are the Index lines, Intermediate lines and the Supplementary lines .
What are the 5 Rules of contour lines?
Rule 1 – every point of a contour line has the same elevation. Rule 2 – contour lines separate uphill from downhill. Rule 3 – contour lines do not touch or cross each other except at a cliff. Rule 4 – every 5th contour line is darker in color .
What 2 types of lines show elevation differences?
Contour lines are used to show elevation on a topographic map. Lines or isolines on a map that connect points with the same elevation. What does each contour line on a map show? Each contour line shows a different elevation.
How do you calculate contour lines?
Divide the difference in elevation between the index lines by the number of contour lines from one index line to the next . In the example above, the distance 200 is divided by the number of lines, 5. The contour interval is equal to 200 / 5 = 40, or 40-unit contour intervals.
What is the space between contour lines called?
A contour interval is the vertical distance or difference in elevation between contour lines. Index contours are bold or thicker lines that appear at every fifth contour line.
What are 4 types of contour lines?
- Isopleth.
- Isohyet.
- Isobar.
- Isobath.
- Isohaline.
- Isotherm.
- Isohel.
- Isohume.
Does Google Earth show contour lines?
This KML network link displays a map overlay for USGS Contours (http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/) in Google Earth. To get started, simply download usgs-contours-overlay-for-google-earth. Or checkout all 4 USGS The National Map map overlays on this site. ...
Why do we use contour lines?
Explain to students that these are imaginary lines that join points of equal elevation, and that they allow you to read the shape of the Earth’s surface. Tell students that by reading contour lines, they can measure the steepness of a hill , the height of a mountain, and even the depth of a lake or ocean.
Why can’t contour lines cross?
Contour lines never cross on a topographic map because each line represents the same elevation level of the land .
What’s the difference between two contour lines?
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. Such lines are called index contour lines.
What are the properties of contour lines?
- Must close on themselves, on or off the map.
- Perpendicular to the direction of max. ...
- Slope between them is assumed uniform.
- The distance between them indicates the steepness of the slope, gentle or steep.
- Irregular signify rough, smooth signify gradual slopes.
How do you read elevation?
On elevation charts, the elevation (listed in feet or meters above sea level) is located on the left side of the chart and reads from low (on the bottom) to high (on the top). The distance of the race is located along the bottom of the chart and will read from left to right in miles or kilometers.
