TEKS 8.9C interpret topographic maps and satellite views to identify land and erosional features and predict how these features may
be reshaped by weathering.
Satellite and Topographic Views
Objective: Compare topographic maps and satellite views to determine how erosion
reshapes land features.
Materials:
• envelopes
• sets of description,
photo, topographic
map and satellite
view cards
Teacher Directions:
In Advance:
• Print; preferably in color; and laminate sets of the photos, descriptions, topographic maps, and satellite
view cards. Each student group will investigate all of the 7 areas, so make enough so that each group
will have access to all of the cards.
•
Place the cards in envelopes for easy distribution.
Activity Directions:
• Review features of topographic maps.
•
•
Students will match the topographic map with the satellite view, then with the description and finally
with the photo.
Cards match as follows:
Place
Emory Peak
Monahans Sand Hills
Enchanted Rock
Rio Grande Valley
Padre Island
Meteor Crater
Palo Duro Canyon
Satellite
View
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Topographic
Map
3
7
2
1
5
4
6
Possible Answers:
Palo
Duro
Canyon
Meteor
Crater
How do the contour lines on the map show the canyon
walls? The lines are close together along both sides
of the river. Along the bottom of the canyon, there
are fewer lines.
What agent of erosion likely created the canyon? moving
water
How might the canyon be affected if a dam were built
upstream of the river?
Sediment would be deposited above the dam, so
erosion would decrease below the dam.
Describe the land feature created by the meteor impact.
The feature is a depression or hollowed out bowl
shape
How is the land feature indicated on the topographic map?
The contour lines have smaller, perpendicular lines
showing that the elevation decreases
How has erosion changed the crater?
Erosion has deposited sediment into the crater,
causing it to be less deep.
What land feature is Emory Peak? Emory Peak is a
mountain
Emory
Peak
On the topographic map, note the “V” shaped lines along
the area labeled “Boot”. What do these lines represent?
These lines represent a river flowing downhill.
What erosional features are seen on the maps? Many
rivers, valleys and small streams
Predict the effects of erosion on the canyon.
The canyon would broaden and deepen
over time.
Predict what will happen to the land feature
over time.
Over time, the crater will likely fill with
more sediment and eventually no longer
be a depression. It will ultimately be
buried.
Predict how Emory Peak’s shape may change
over many years.
As the mountain erodes, the sediment will
be carried down the mountain slopes,
causing the mountain to become more
gently sloped and rounder—less jagged.
Rio
Grande
River
Valley
Enchanted
Rock
Monahans
Sand Hills
Padre
Island
Compare the satellite photo and the topographic map.
What differences do you see? Answers will vary, but
students should notice that the satellite photo
shows rectangular areas (agricultural), vegetation
and buildings
As more and more water is pulled from the river, the
water flow slows. How might this effect the erosion of the
river channel?
The rate at which the river channel widens or
deepens will slow.
How would you describe Enchanted Rock based on the
maps? The rock appears to be a dome shaped hill or
mountain
What is the highest elevation on Enchanted Rock? 1825
feet
Which side of the rock would be easiest to climb and why?
The South side would be easiest because the
contour lines are further apart.
Observe the areas of higher elevation on the topographic
map and the light-colored areas on the satellite image.
What force is most likely weathering and eroding these
areas?
Wind
What is the elevation along the shoreline?
sea level or 0 feet
Why is only one contour line shown?
The area is basically flat
What two land features are found along the shoreline?
beaches and sand dunes
How might a hurricane impact the area?
A hurricane would change the force of the water
along the shore, causing more erosion. This would
change the shape of the island.
How will the shape of the river channel change
as the river continues to flow?
Eventually, the river channel will deepen
and widen, the river will continue to
become more curved.
One agent of erosion at Enchanted Rock is
exfoliation. Rock breaks off in large sheets
slides to the bottom of the rock.
What force causes the sheets of rock to slide
down hill? gravity
How will the shape of the rock change over
time? If the sides continue to erode away,
the rock will become more rounded, but
smaller
List at least three ways the sand hills will
change due to weathering, erosion and
deposition.
The dunes will change shape, size and
location
People living along the shore are concerned
about the beaches disappearing. Why is this
concern valid?
As water and wind exert force along the
shore, the shoreline is eroded away, which
virtually causes the beach to disappear.
TEKS 8.9C interpret topographic maps and satellite views to identify land and erosional features and predict how these features may be reshaped by weathering.
Satellite and Topographic Views
Objective: Compare topographic maps and satellite views to determine how erosion reshapes land features.
Directions:
• Observe the characteristics of each map.
• Match the topographic map with the corresponding satellite image.
• Match the description card with the corresponding map and image.
• Match the photo with the corresponding description, map and image.
• Answer the questions for each set.
Palo Duro
Canyon
How do the contour lines on the map show
the canyon walls? ___________________
__________________________________
Predict the effects of erosion on the canyon.
___________________________________
What agent of erosion likely created the
canyon? _________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
cards ___
and ___
How might the canyon be affected if a dam
were built upstream of the river?
__________________________________
__________________________________
Meteor Crater
cards ___
and ___
Describe the land feature created by the
meteor impact. ____________________
_________________________________
Predict what will happen to the land feature
over time.
___________________________________
How is the land feature indicated on the
topographic map? __________________
_________________________________
___________________________________
How has erosion changed the crater?
__________________________________
__________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
What land feature is Emory Peak?
Predict how Emory Peak’s shape may
_________________________________
change over many years.
___________________________________
Emory Peak
On the topographic map, note the “V”
___________________________________
shaped lines along the area labeled “Boot”.
___________________________________
What do these lines represent?
___________________________________
__________________________________
cards ___
and ___
__________________________________
What erosional features are seen on the
maps? ____________________________
__________________________________
Rio Grande
River Valley
Compare the satellite photo and the
How will the shape of the river channel
topographic map. What differences do you
change as the river continues to flow?
see? ______________________________
___________________________________
__________________________________
___________________________________
__________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
cards ___
and ___
As more and more water is pulled from the
river, the water flow slows. How might
this effect the erosion of the river channel?
__________________________________
__________________________________
Enchanted
Rock
cards ___
and ___
How would you describe Enchanted Rock
One agent of erosion at Enchanted Rock is
based on the maps?___________________ exfoliation. Rock breaks off in large sheets
___________________________________ slides to the bottom of the rock.
What force causes the sheets of rock to
What is the highest elevation on Enchanted slide down hill? _____________________
Rock? _____________________________
How will the shape of the rock change over
Which side of the rock would be easiest to
time? _____________________________
climb and why? ______________________ __________________________________
___________________________________ __________________________________
Monahans
Sand Hills
cards ___
and ___
Observe the areas of higher elevation on
the topographic map and the light-colored
areas on the satellite image. What force is
most likely weathering and eroding these
areas?
_________________________________
List at least three ways the sand hills will
change due to weathering, erosion and
deposition.
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
What is the elevation along the shoreline?
Padre Island
cards ___
and ___
People living along the shore are
___________________________________ concerned about the beaches disappearing.
Why is this concern valid?
Why is only one contour line shown?
__________________________________
___________________________________ __________________________________
What two land features are found along the
__________________________________
shoreline? __________________________
__________________________________
___________________________________
How might a hurricane impact the area?
___________________________________
___________________________________
Description Cards
Enchanted Rock State Park, near Fredricksburg, Texas
Enchanted Rock is an enormous granite dome formation found in Central Texas. The
dome rises about 425 feet above the surrounding area. The rock was formed about
1,082 million years ago when molten rock pushed up through the surrounding rock.
The rock is known for its “moaning” which occurs when the rock cools and contracts
after being heated during the day. This also causes the granite to split off the dome in
sheets. Average rainfall in the area is about 31 inches per year. The temperature can
vary by 23 degrees between day and night.
Rio Grande River Valley, near Rio Grande City, Texas
The Rio Grande River flows from Colorado through New Mexico and along the Texas
Mexico border until it joins the Pecos River and heads to the Gulf of Mexico. Near the
river’s mouth, is an important agricultural region, where the river ends in a sandy
delta. The use of water from the river has slowed the flow of the river tremendously
over the years. Less than a fifth of the water reaches the Gulf of Mexico today.
Meteor Crater, near Odessa, Texas
This is the site of one of two meteor impacts found in Texas. Thousands of meteors
fell about 63,500 years ago. The crater was originally about 100 feet deep, but over
time, soil and debris have filled the crater to a depth of about 15 feet deep.
Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, Texas
Emory Peak is part of the Chisos Mountains, which lie in the heart of Big Bend National
Park. The Park is located in far West Texas. Emory Peak is the highest point of the
Chisos Mountains at 7825 feet above sea level. These mountains are volcanic and
formed 40-60 million years ago during volcanic eruptions and intrusions. Over time,
seasonal streams flow downhill and have carved away much of the mountain slopes,
leaving many channels and gullies behind.
Monahans Sandhills State Park, near Monahans, Texas
The Monahans Sandhills State Park is located in West Texas and consists of 3840
acres of sand dunes, some of which are up to 70 feet high. The area receives little
annual precipitation, but has seasonal winds which reshape the landscape. Most of the
dunes are stabilized by vegetation, but many dunes are still active. The prevailing
winds in the area change the shape and size of the dunes.
Palo Duro Canyon, near Amarillo, Texas
The Palo Duro Canyon, sometimes called the Grand Canyon of Texas, is located in the
high plains of North Texas. The canyon was formed by the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red
River. The canyon varies from a depth of 820 to 997 feet. Average annual
precipitation is 20 inches per year, and flash flooding is a major concern in the canyon.
Padre Island, near Corpus Christi, Texas
Padre Island is the largest Texas barrier island and the world's longest barrier island.
Barrier islands are long, narrow strips of sand that provide protection for mainland
areas. They are usually separated from the mainland by a shallow bay or lagoon.
Padre Island is located on Texas' southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico and is famous
for its white sandy beaches at the south end. The average annual rainfall varies from
30 to 50 inches per year.
Photos
Enchanted Rock
Monahans Sand Hills
Rio Grande Valley
Photos
Meteor Crater
Palo Duro Canyon
Emory Peak
Padre Island
Satellite and Topographic Maps
A
3
C
N
2
B
7
E
5
F
4
G
6
D
1