Scribd
Upload
126 views

Contour Lines: Representation of Heights

Contour lines represent elevations on maps and are used to depict the shape of terrain. They are lines connecting points of equal height. The closer the lines, the steeper the slope; the wider spaced lines indicate more gentle slopes. Vertical interval is the difference in height between contour lines. Cross-sections can be constructed from contour lines to show the rise and fall of landforms and identify relief features such as mountains, hills, and plains.

Uploaded by

Theresa Brown
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
126 views

Contour Lines: Representation of Heights

Contour lines represent elevations on maps and are used to depict the shape of terrain. They are lines connecting points of equal height. The closer the lines, the steeper the slope; the wider spaced lines indicate more gentle slopes. Vertical interval is the difference in height between contour lines. Cross-sections can be constructed from contour lines to show the rise and fall of landforms and identify relief features such as mountains, hills, and plains.

Uploaded by

Theresa Brown
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 42

CONTOUR LINES

Representation of Heights
Learning Objectives

1. Define: relief, contour lines, vertical intervals

2. Describe the shape and spacing of contour lines for: gentle slopes, steep
slopes

3. Calculate the vertical intervals on selected map extracts

4. Assess the gentleness or steepness of the land by its contour lines


What is relief?

Relief is the difference in elevation (or height) between parts of the Earth's surface.
The height of the land, in conjunction with information about the slope and shape, is
very useful for many people, including surveyors, geologists, real estate developers
and bushwalkers. There are a number of techniques which have been developed over
time to accurately represent relief features on a map.
Ways of Representing heights on a map
1. Spot heights: these are represented by a dot on the map with the height directly below,
above or beside it. (eg .375)
2. Trigonometrical (trig) station/points: these are real concrete pillars used by mapmakers
to accurately indicate the highest point of major hills or mountains. If you are a mountain
climber, you may come across one. On maps, major trigonometrical stations are indicated
by a triangle which encloses a dot . The height of the point is given below or beside the
symbol. For minor trigonometrical stations, the triangle is inverted.

Major trig station


Minor trg station
Ways of Representing heights on a map

3. Colours or layer tints: colours and different layers of tints are quite
popular on maps in representing the height of the land. The colour
green on the map represents lowlands and yellow represents highland.
Brown usually represents high mountains.
4. Form lines: these are lines drawn from spot heights not accurately
measured.
Ways of Representing heights on a map

5. Contours: these are lines on topographical maps joining places of the


same height above sea level. These lines do not intersect but run closely or
parallel to one another. The closer the contour lines, the steeper the
slope. The wider the contours, the gentler the slope

The difference in height between one contour line and the one next to it is
known a vertical interval (VI).
DIAGRAM A
DIAGRAM B

B
QUESTIONS

1. Using the diagram, students will identify

a. The side that has a gentler slope

b. The side that has a steeper slope

2. What is the vertical interval for diagram A and B?

3. What is the height at N?


CROSS SECTION

Cross Sections are profiles which show the rise and fall of the land. They allow
us to identify physical features (relief features), some of which are mountain,
hills and plains.
CONSTRUCTING A CROSS SECTION
1. Locate the point and connect them with a straight line

2. Align the edge of a strip of paper along the marked line

3. Mark on the paper, the points where each contour meets the paper. Write the height of the contour on
the paper

4. Draw a horizontal line the length of the straight line in your book or on paper. Draw a vertical scale
that is appropriate for the contour line being used to construct the cross section.

Place the edge of the strip of paper along the horizontal axis. Use the vertical scale to mark the points.
Connect the marked points to complete your profile
CROSS SECTIONS AND THEIR SHAPES
CROSS SECTIONS AND THEIR SHAPES
TYPES OF SLOPES
All relief features have slopes. The types of slopes include:

1. Concave slopes- these are gentle at lower heights and become increasingly steep as height increases
2. Convex slopes- are steep at lower heights but become gentler as height increases
3. Uniform slopes- have the same degree of steepness throughout
4. Stepped slopes- comprise alternating steep sections separated by fatter sections
Concave Slope
Convex Slope
Relief Features

Mountains are tall landforms with steep slopes and are over 600m in height

Hills are rounded highlands below 600m in height


Conical Hills are cone-shaped hills

Hillocks/Knolls are small and isolated hills

Peak is the highest point of a mountain. This may be represented by a spot height or
Trigonometrical station on maps

Ridges are long and narrow pieces of elevated land


Hills
Relief Features
Crest is the highest point on a ridge

Escarpments consists of steep sided slopes (scarp slope) and a gentle sided slope (dip slope)

Plateaus are flat areas of highlands descending on all sides towards lower ground

Dissected plateaus are heavily eroded by agents such as rivers. The erosion amy leave behind small hills

Passes are narrow passages across highlands and mountain ranges eg. Cols, saddles and gaps

Cols and Saddles are low spaces between two high points in a mountain range. Saddles are wider than cols

Gaps are low-lying areas or breaks in areas of highlands or ridges


Ridge
Spur
Cliff

You might also like