Topography of the Earth

1
Topography of the Earth

• Aim How is Earths topography represented on a
  map?

2
Objectives

• Read topographic maps
• Determine elevation and gradients on the map
• Create your own topographic map

3
Vocabulary

• Topography
• Contour Lines
• Contour Interval
• Slope
• Gradient
• Depression
• Altitude
• Elevation
• River

4
A. Topography is.

• The shape of the land
• (flat, sloping, hilly, mountainous)

5
B. Some more definitions

• Contour line A line that connects areas of
  equal elevation on a map
• Contour interval the difference between one
  contour line and the next. To find the contour
  interval, subtract the two values given,and then
  divide by the number of lines you need to go from
  one value to the next.
• Slope the angle of the land. The closer the
  contour lines are on a map, the steeper the
  slope
• Contour Gradient or Elevation Gradient the rate
  at which the slope of land changes. The gradient
  can be either steep or gradual.
• Gradient change in elevation
  distance

6
B. More definitions continued

• Depression This symbol is used to show where
  the elevation goes down, like a hole.
• River a river is usually shown by a wrinkle or
  bump in the contour lines
• Relief The difference between the highest and
  lowest point of a fixed area
• Landform geographical feature of an area

7
C. Factors that determine topography

• a. Elevation -the height above sea level
  (altitude)
• b. Relief -the difference in elevation between
  the highest and lowest parts of an area
• c. Landforms - A feature that is formed by
  processes that shape the Earth (i.e. weathering,
  erosion, deposition, tectonic plate movements)

8
D. Types of Landforms

• a. Plain low flat land, low relief
• b. Mountain high elevation, high relief
• c. Plateau high elevation, low relief

9
Virtual Contour Maps

• http//www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/
  content/investigations/es0307/es0307page01.cfm

10
Lets take a walk up a hill!
11
Were now at an elevation of 100 meters.
100m
12
Lets keep going!
100m
13
Now were at 200m.
200m
100m
14
Shall we march on?
200m
100m
15
Weve made it to 300m!
300m
200m
100m
16
On to the peak!
300m
200m
100m
17
Were on the peak, but whats our elevation?
300m
200m
100m
18
Any ideas?
Lets add contour lines for every 50 meters and
see if that helps.
300m
200m
100m
19

We know that we are above 350m, but less than
400m.
350m
300m
250m
200m
150m
100m
50m
20

Lets head down the hill, its getting late!
350m
300m
250m
200m
150m
100m
50m
21

Now whats our elevation?
If you said somewhere between 200m and 250m you
are right!
350m
300m
250m
200m
150m
100m
50m
22

Lets try this again!
350m
300m
250m
200m
150m
100m
50m
23

Whats our elevation now?
If you said 50m or just under, youre right!
350m
300m
250m
200m
150m
100m
50m
24
Each color change represents a 50 meter increase.
25
Now, lets try the same hike! Our elevation is 0
meters.
26
Now what is our elevation?
27
If you said more than 150 meters, but less than
200 meters your right!
28
Lets go a little higher.
29
Think you know our elevation now?
More than 300meters But less than 350meters
30
If we were standing on the peak, what would be
our elevation?

• More than 350 meters, less than 400 meters

31
Lets head down hill.
32
Know our elevation?
33
More than 100 meters, less than 150 meters
34
Figure 1
Highest elevation Contour Interval
Elevation of the outermost line
35

• The contour interval is ___________________
• 2. Which direction does the river flow?
  ________________
• 3. Elevation of points
• A ______ B ______ C ________ D ______ X
  ______

36
Figure 2
B
E
C
A
D
37
(No Transcript)
38
(No Transcript)