Section 1.4 Earth Science Outline
Topographic Maps
I.
II.
Mapping Earth’s Topography
A. Topographic map: map showing the features of an area;
i. use symbols to portray the land;
ii. provide highly accurate info on elevation, relief, and slope of the ground surface
B. Uses of topographic maps
i. Building new stores, houses, factories
ii. Cities use them to build new schools
iii. Recreation uses –where to camp or mtn bike
C. Scale: topos are usually large scale maps or ones that show an extreme close-up view
i. 1/24,000 scale: I cm= .24 km
D. Coverage
i. Usually govts make topo maps
 US Geological Survey or USGS
E. Symbols
i. Mapmakers use a variety of symbols on topo maps.
Showing Relief on Topographic Maps
A. Contour lines: represents BOTH elevation and relief; they connect areas of equal elevation.
B. Contour interval: the change in elevation from contour line to contour line.
i. The interval is the same throughout the map
1. For instance, if the interval were 20 feet, there would be a 20 foot change in elevation
b/t two lines.
2. Usually, every 5th line is a darker, heavier line and are labeled in round units like 1600 or
2000 feet in elevation.
 This is called the contour index.
ii.) Rules of reading topo
III.
1. Depression: a closed loop with dashes inside
2. Elevation: a closed loop w/o dashes; also known as a hilltop
3. Slope: Closely spaced contour lines indicate steep slope; widely spaced lines indicate more
gentle slopes
4. Contour index: starting point to find the elevation of a feature. Begin at the labeled contour
index (the rounded number); usually the heavier, thicker line
GPS= Global Positioning System
A. GPS: method of finding latitude, longitude and elevation of points on Earth’s surface using a network of
satellites.
Name:________________________
Period:_________
Assignment #:________
Section 1.4 Earth Science Outline
Topographic Maps
IV.
Mapping Earth’s Topography
A. Topographic map: ________________________________________
i. use ________________ to portray the land;
ii. provide highly accurate info on ___________________________________
_______________________________________________________ surface
B. Uses of topographic maps
i. _____________________________________________________________
ii. Cities use them to ______________________________________________
iii. Recreation uses –_______________________________________________
C. Scale: topos are usually _______________________________________or
ones that show ____________________________________________________
 EX: 1/24,000 scale:
I cm= _________________
D. Coverage
i. Usually ______________________make topo maps
 __________________________________________________
E. Symbols
i. Mapmakers use a variety of symbols on topo maps.
V.
Showing Relief on Topographic Maps
A. Contour lines: ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
B. ____________________________________: the change in elevation from
contour line to contour line.
i. The interval is the _____________________________________________
1. For instance, if the interval were 20 feet, there would be a 20 foot
change in elevation b/t two lines.
2. Usually, every 5th line is a _______________________________ and
is labeled in round units like 1600 or 2000 feet in elevation.
 This is called that ____________________________________
ii.) Rules of reading topo
1. ________________________________: a closed loop with dashes
inside
2. __________________: a closed loop w/o dashes; also known as a
hilltop
3. _____________________: Closely spaced contour lines indicate steep
slope; widely spaced lines indicate more gentle slopes
4. _____________: Starting point to find the elevation of a feature
C. GPS= ________________________________________________________
D. GPS: method of finding ______________________________________________
of points on Earth’s surface using a network of satellites.