Asked by: Jeff Rogers

Topography is a measurement of elevation, and slope is the percent change in that elevation over a certain distance. Topography may be measured with lines that connect points representing the same elevation; these are called topographic contours.

How do you explain topography?

Topography Definition



Topography is the study of the land surface. In particular, it lays the underlying foundation of a landscape. For example, topography refers to mountains, valleys, rivers, or craters on the surface. The origin of topography comes from “topo” for “place” and “graphia” for “writing”.

How would you describe flat topography?

Flat areas are never strictly horizontal; there are gentle slopes in a seemingly flat area, but they are often hardly noticeable to the naked eye. An accurate survey of the land is necessary to identify these so called “flat slopes”.

What are the three main types of topography?

Topography Types

• Karst Topography. Karst topography describes the distinct landscape that is made when underlying rocks dissolve or change shape. …
• Mountain Topography. Topographical maps show landforms such as hills and mountains. …
• Vegetation, Elevation and Glaciers.

How do you describe topographic features on a map?

Topographic maps depict four main types of features:

• Landforms: hills, valleys, gullies, ridges…
• Water courses: rivers, swamps, coastal…
• Vegetation: national parks, farmland, plantations…
• Manmade: buildings, roads, property boundaries, political boundaries…

What is topography of a land?

Topography is the study of the shape and features of land surfaces. The topography of an area refers to the surface shapes and features on the ground and their arrangement. Traditional definitions require a topographic map to show both natural and man-made features.

What is a sentence for topography?

Topography sentence example. As a result the topography is characterized by low, rounded hills, but is nowhere mountainous. Finally, the surface topography will often throw much light on the underground structure. The glacial era has left abundant evidences in the topography of the state.

How would you describe the topography of a city?

The most effective way to communicate the topography of an area is by creating or using a ​topographic map​. Topographic maps contain representations of different topographic features and provide key details for those features, such as elevation level.

What are the 4 types of slopes in geography?

Slope (Steepness)



Totally flat ground has no contour lines. Four types of slopes that concern bushwalkers are gentle, steep, concave, and convex.

What do contour lines define?

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

How do you read a topographic map?

So the slope is more mellow contour lines can also help you visualize the shape of the terrain. For example as the lines form smaller and smaller circles they're probably showing a peak.

How is topography measured?

Use contour lines to determine elevations of mountains and flat areas. The closer together the lines are, the steeper the slope. Contour elevation numbers indicate the direction of elevation by always reading (pointing) uphill.

How do you read elevation on a topographic map?

You can figure out the elevation of any point by finding the nearest labeled line, counting the number of lines above or below it, multiplying by the contour interval, and adding or subtracting the result from the nearest marked contour line. The more closely spaced the contour lines, the steeper the slope.

What do the lines on a topographic map represent?

A map with contour lines on it is called a topographic map. Topographic maps use a combination of colors, shading and contour lines to represent changes in elevation and terrain shape. Essentially, topographic maps represent the three-dimensional landscape of Earth within the two-dimensional space of a map.

What are the lines on a topographic map called?

The topography is represented by contour lines, which are imaginary lines. Every point on a particular contour line is at the same elevation. These lines are generally relative to mean sea level.

What indicates the shapes of landforms on a topographic map?

The distinctive characteristic of a topographic map is the use of elevation contour lines to show the shape of the Earth’s surface. 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.

How are landforms described?

A landform is a feature on the Earth’s surface that is part of the terrain. Mountains, hills, plateaus, and plains are the four major types of landforms. Minor landforms include buttes, canyons, valleys, and basins. Tectonic plate movement under the Earth can create landforms by pushing up mountains and hills.

What is the term used to describe elevations on maps?

Maps that show elevations are called topographic maps.

What are topographic symbols?

Topographic maps use symbols to represent natural and human constructed features found in the environment. The symbols used to represent features can be of three types: points, lines, and polygons. Points are used to depict features like bridges and buildings.

What are major terrain features?

Thumb rules: The five major terrain features are: Hill, Ridge, Valley, Saddle, and Depression. The three minor terrain features are: Draw, Spur and Cliff.

How do you identify features on a map?

Along with scale, symbols, and grids, other features appear regularly on maps. A good way to remember these features is DOGSTAILS: date, orientation, grid, scale, title, author, index, legend, and sources. Title, date, author, and sources usually appear on the map though not always together.

What are the bold contours called?

index 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 characteristics of contour?

Characteristics of Contours

• 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.

What are two main features topographic maps can depict?

Topographic map. –A topographic map, as distinguished from other kinds, portrays by some means the shape and elevation of the ter- rain. Geological Survey topographic maps usu- ally represent elevations and laNdforms–the shapes into which the earth’s surface is sculp- tured by natural forces–by contour lines.

What are the types of contour lines?

Contour lines are of three different kinds. They are the Index lines, Intermediate lines and the Supplementary lines.