What Do Contour Lines That Are Close Together Represent?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Contour lines that are relatively close together indicate

a slope that is fairly steep

. Contour lines that are further apart indicates a slope that is relatively flat. The area of the map above boxed in orange shows an area that has a fairly steep slope, while the area boxed in purple is a relatively flat area.

When contour lines are close together this means the hill is?

When contour lines are closer together on a map, they indicate

a steep slope

. Think of contour lines as the distance between each incline. The closer together the inclines, the steeper the hill. On the other hand, the farther apart lines tend to indicate a depression in the landscape.

When contour lines are close together they represent s?

Spacing of contours: close contours indicate

a steep slope

; distant contours a shallow slope. Two or more contour lines merging indicates a cliff.

What does each contour line represent?

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. The diagram illustrates how contour lines show relief by joining points of equal elevation.

What are the five 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 are the types of contour lines?

A. Contour lines are of three different kinds. They are

the Index lines, Intermediate lines and the Supplementary lines

.

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.

Why do we use contour lines?

Teaching points: Maps are flat unlike some of the ground which they represent so we use contour lines on

a map to show how high the ground is

. … Contour lines show all the places that are the same height above sea level. They also tell us about the slope of the land. On a steep slope, the lines are close together.

When contour lines are close together they show what type of elevation?

If the lines are close together, it means that the

elevation change of 10 feet happens over relatively little linear distance

. The closer they are together, the steeper the slope. If the lines are far apart, it means that the elevation change of 10 feet happens over a longer linear distance.

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 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.

How do contour lines work?

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. If you were to walk the path of a

contour

line in real life, you would remain at the same elevation the whole hike, never traveling up or down.

Why do contour lines never cross?

Contour lines never cross.

They may come very close to each other (e.g. 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!

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 4 types of contour lines?

  • Isopleth. Isopleth on a contour map connects the places having the same value of some measurable quantity of geographical or meteorological phenomena. …
  • Isohyet. …
  • Isobar. …
  • Isobath. …
  • Isohaline. …
  • Isotherm. …
  • Isohel. …
  • Isohume.
Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.