RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
For this pre-lab, you will need to
1. print this lab so that you can fill out the tables, and
2. keep this file open on the computer, so that you can click on and open links to maps as
you need them.
3. have your Livermore topo map out and ready to use
4. have access to a world globe (if you don’t already own one, you can come to the
instructor’s office hours, try the local library, or buy one at a store like Target or
Border’s).
What you need to learn and practice:
A. Elevations: how to read and figure out elevations on a topographic map
B. Distances: how to measure distances on a topographic map
C. Public Land Survey System (PLSS); how to locate positions with this grid system
D. Latitude and Longitude: how to locate positions with this grid system
E. General familiarity with reading and using topographic maps
What you have to work with:
• this pre-lab and its exercises
• your lab manual. The explanations in this are brief and concise – in some cases, this
may be all that you need. In other cases, you may want, or need, more – in those
cases, search the internet for help.
• the internet – there are many, many websites with information and explanations and
tutorials on these topics. Websearch for help and you should be able to find a
selection of websites with explanations and assistance.
• a Topo Map CD-ROM tutorial (very well done) is available for use during the
instructor’s regularly scheduled office hours.
Figuring things out:
In many cases, you may not need any instructions – you may be able to figure things out
by simply using some logic and spending some time thinking about how things should
work. The more time that you can spend working on figuring it out (instead of simply
relying on cookbook directions), the more that you will learn and remember.
When you first look at a brand new topic or problem, see what you can figure out without
any help or directions. Figure out as much as you can – treat it like a puzzle. When you
are stuck, and/or have figured out as much as you can, then look for directions or help in
your lab manual or the internet.
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RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
ELEVATIONS
I. Click here to bring up the Livermore map with marked locations.
• An index map of the marked locations is provided on the next page. .
II. Mark the 20 locations onto your own copy of the Livermore map, using the
digital screen version of the map so that you can see accurately where each location
is. The index map is simply for reference. You are not supposed to try and read the
elevations from the index map
III. Fill in the table below with the elevations of each marked location.
Click here for an explanation of how close you have to be to the correct answer to get
credit
Location
Elevation
Location
A
L
B
M
C
N
D
P
E
R
F
S
G
T
H
U
J
W
K
Y
Elevation
.
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RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
Page 3
RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
Distances on the Livermore 7.5’ Quadrangle Map
Distance
(in miles)
Locations : measure the straight-line distance between the indicated locations
LPC and the Hospital at the Livermore Veteran’s Administration
LPC and Valley View School
LPC and the Sewage Disposal plant
LPC and hill Doolan 2
LPC and the Santa Rita Rehabilitation Center Annex
LPC and Oak Hill
LPC and Inman School
LPC and the Spring north of Croak Road
LPC and Portola Avenue School
LPC and Cotton Hill
LPC and Vern Hill
LPC and Civic Center Park
LPC and Valley Care Hospital in Livermore
LPC and Livermore’s main Post Office
Cotton Hill and Oak Hill
Rincon Avenue School and Mendenhall School
The center of Shadow Cliffs lake and Civic Center Park
The center of Shadow Cliffs lake and Vern Hill
the length of College Avenue in Livermore
the length of Alden Lane, Livermore
How close do you have to be to the correct answer? It depends on the map scale, but for this map, and
this quiz, you need to be within 0.05 miles of the correct answer. For example, if the correct answer is
2.7 miles, then any answers between 2.65-2.75 miles would receive credit.
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RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
IV. Additional questions
1. Which of the following are true for location A?
(Refer to the marked elevation map and pick the best single answer from the choices provided)
• benchmark
• railroad
• creek/river
• spring
• depression/hole
• top of a hill or knob
• gravel pit
• vineyard
• in a saddle
• well
• LPC
• windmill
2. Which of the following are true for location B?
(Refer to the marked elevation map and pick the best single answer from the choices provided)
• benchmark
• railroad
• creek/river
• spring
• depression/hole
• top of a hill or knob
• gravel pit
• vineyard
• in a saddle
• well
• LPC
• windmill
3. Which of the following are true for location E?
(Refer to the marked elevation map and pick the best single answer from the choices provided)
• railroad
• benchmark
• spring
• creek/river
• top of a hill or knob
• depression/hole
• vineyard
• gravel pit
• in a saddle
• well
• LPC
• windmill
4. Which of the following are true for location F?
(Refer to the marked elevation map and pick the best single answer from the choices provided)
• benchmark
• railroad
• creek/river
• spring
• depression/hole
• top of a hill or knob
• gravel pit
• vineyard
• in a saddle
• well
• LPC
• windmill
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RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
5. Which of the following are true for location G?
(Refer to the marked elevation map and pick the best single answer from the choices provided)
• benchmark
• railroad
• creek/river
• spring
• depression/hole
• top of a hill or knob
• gravel pit
• vineyard
• in a saddle
• well
• LPC
• windmill
6. Which of the following are true for location H?
(Refer to the marked elevation map and pick the best single answer from the choices provided)
• benchmark
• railroad
• creek/river
• spring
• depression/hole
• top of a hill or knob
• gravel pit
• vineyard
• in a saddle
• well
• LPC
• windmill
7. Which of the following are true for location J?
(Refer to the marked elevation map and pick the best single answer from the choices provided)
• railroad
• benchmark
• spring
• creek/river
• top of a hill or knob
• depression/hole
• vineyard
• gravel pit
• well
• on a slope
• LPC
• windmill
8. Which of the following are true for location K?
(Refer to the marked elevation map and pick the best single answer from the choices provided)
• benchmark
• railroad
• creek/river
• spring
• depression/hole
• top of a hill or knob
• gravel pit
• vineyard
• on a slope
• well
• LPC
• windmill
9. Which of the following are true for location L?
(Refer to the marked elevation map and pick the best single answer from the choices provided)
• benchmark
• railroad
• creek/river
• spring
• depression/hole
• top of a hill or knob
• gravel pit
• vineyard
• in a saddle
• well
• windmill
• LPC
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RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
10. Which of the following are true for location M?
(Refer to the marked elevation map and pick the best single answer from the choices provided)
• benchmark
• railroad
• creek/river
• spring
• depression/hole
• top of a hill or knob
• gravel pit
• vineyard
• in a saddle
• water well
• LPC
• windmill
11. Which of the following are true for location S?
(Refer to the marked elevation map and pick the best single answer from the choices provided)
• benchmark
• railroad
• creek/river
• spring
• depression/hole
• top of a hill or knob
• gravel pit
• vineyard
• in a saddle
• water well
• LPC
• windmill
12. Which of the following are true for location T?
(Refer to the marked elevation map and pick the best single answer from the choices provided)
• railroad
• benchmark
• spring
• creek/river
• top of a hill or knob
• depression/hole
• vineyard
• gravel pit
• water well
• on a slope
• LPC
• windmill
13. Which of the following are true for location U?
(Refer to the marked elevation map and pick the best single answer from the choices provided)
• benchmark
• railroad
• creek/river
• spring
• depression/hole
• top of a hill or knob
• gravel pit
• vineyard
• on a slope
• water well
• LPC
• windmill
14. Which of the following are true for location W?
(Refer to the marked elevation map and pick the best single answer from the choices provided)
• benchmark
• railroad
• creek/river
• spring
• depression/hole
• top of a hill or knob
• gravel pit
• vineyard
• on a slope
• water well
• windmill
• LPC
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RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
Page 8
RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
Public Land Survey System (Section/Township/Range)
Since the 1700’s, land and property in the United States was granted and delineated using the
Public Land Survey System (PLSS). If you ever purchase (or inherit) a piece of property
outside the city limits, the land title, or deed, will most likely use the PLSS to delineate the
property boundaries and location. Do a web search on the PLSS if you are interested in more
historical details.
LPC
•
•
•
•
•
•
Origin: Looking at our local area, Mount Diablo, the local high point, was chosen as the
local grid origin (where the X- and Y-axes cross).
Basic grid: The region was then divided into a simple grid, with the lines 6 miles apart.
The grid is labeled with
o Townships (T), north and south of the origin (Mt. Diablo) and
o Ranges (R), east and west of the origin (Mt. Diablo)
Townships: Each 36-mile square is called a township
The general locations of LPC and some local cities are overlain for reference.
The Livermore 7.5’ topographic map is overlain on the grid so that you can see its position.
Of note: the edges of the Livermore topo map follow lines of latitude and longitude.
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RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
F
A
B
D
LPC
C
E
Using Township and Range, describe the marked locations
the first one has been filled in as an example
Position
A
B
C
D
E
F
LPC
Township
#
N or S?
2
North
#
3
Range
E or W?
East
answers on the last page of this document
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RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
•
SECTION: Each township (36-mile square) is divided into 36 one-mile sections.
•
•
The sections are numbered in a specific order, starting in the upper left corner.
Every section has a number, but only some of the sections have been labeled here as
examples.
Click here to view and inspect a large version of this graph (for those who can’t read this
graph well enough).
•
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RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
Æ What are the PLSS coordinates of positions G, H, J, K and L? Å
Click here to view a large version of this map-grid.
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RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
Æ What are the PLSS coordinates of positions G, H, J, K and L? Å
Click here to view a large version of this map-grid.
Using the PLSS, describe the marked locations
the first one has been filled in as an example
Position
G
section
#
29
Township
#
N or S?
3
North
Range
#
E or W?
2
West
H
J
K
L
answers on the last page of this document
•
Quarters: Each 1-mile section can be subdivided into quarters.
•
Click here and then zoom in on
o section 3, T2N, R3E
•
Any ¼ section can be further divided into sub-quarters
o Click here and then zoom in on
ƒ section 9, T2N, R3E
•
For the purposes of your quiz and lab practical exams, you will only need to divide the sections
into quarters (not subquarters).
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RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
Use PLSS coordinates to located each of the following marked locations.
Click here for a large version of this map.
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RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
Use PLSS coordinates to located each of the following marked locations.
Click here for a large version of this map.
Using the PLSS, describe the marked locations
the first one has been filled in as an example
Position
¼
M
SE
section
#
16
Township
#
N or S?
3
N
Range
#
E or W?
3
W
N
P
Q
R
S
T
U
W
Y
Z
And, no…, the answers are not included at the end…,
these are your online pre-lab PLSS questions.
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RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
Latitude & Longitude
Read the section on Latitude & Longitude in your lab manual. If the information and diagrams there are not
enough, then run a websearch and look for tutorials and explanations on the internet for more information.
And just a hint: Don’t make this too hard – you don’t need to memorize definitions. This is about application you need to be able to locate positions with the lat/long coordinates as shown below. You can probably figure
it out without reading anything if you just sit down with a globe and the lists below.
Locate each of the following latitude/longitude positions and figure out where they are.
Use the list of countries and oceans below for your answers.
The easiest, and quickest, way to figure these out is with a globe. If you don’t own one, there are globes
available at the instructor’s office hours. You can also ask at the library (campus or city) for a globe to use (if
they have one, you can’t take it home). You can also buy one at a store like Target.
Lat/Long
15S, 150W
25S, 135E
15N, 75W
22N, 75E
50N, 15E
30S, 75E
15N, 150W
15N, 150E
45S, 120W
15S, 90E
15S, 0Long
30N, 120E
30S, 120E
30N, 120W
40N, 122W
75N, 180W
75N, 180E
25N, 90W
75S, 90E
15N, 15E
40N, 105W
40N, 85W
45N, 120W
30N, 90W
5N, 70W
15N, 90W
•
•
•
•
•
Where is it?
Africa
Antarctica
Arctic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Australia
•
•
•
•
•
•
Caribbean Sea
Central America
China
Europe
Gulf of Mexico
India
•
•
•
•
•
Indian Ocean
Northern California
Pacific Ocean
South America
United States
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RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
Latitude and Longitude
1. Using a globe of the world, what Egyptian city lies the closest to 30E longitude?
2.Using a globe of the world, what major English city lies the closest to 0 longitude?
3. Ottowa, Canada and Minneapolis and St. Paul lie on (or very close to) what major latitude?
4. What major US city lies close to (or on) 30N latitude and 90W longitude?
5. What is the latitude of the northern boundary of your Livermore map?
6. What is the latitude of the southern boundary of your Livermore map?
7. What is the longitude of the western boundary of your Livermore map?
8. What is the longitude of the eastern boundary of your Livermore map?
9. What is at 121deg 50min longitude and 37deg 40min latitude?
While latitude and longitude are great for locating places on a globe....latitude and longitude
are cumbersome for locating places fairly close together....like LPC and the airport. The point
of the next question is to learn why latitude and longitude are not generally used to locate
places that are within a couple of miles of each other....so, do the problem...but don't get all
stressed about it. The following question is not difficult in concept, however, you will have to be
able to subtract degrees, minutes and seconds.... and you will have to calculate ratios (multiply
and divide)...its just arithmetic, so don't let it feel like calculus....
10. What is the latitude and longitude of Las Positas College?
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RL Hanna
Geology
Topographic Map PreLab
Answers
Position
A
B
C
D
E
F
LPC
Township
#
N or S?
2
North
#
3
2
2
1
4
3
3
4
2
3
1
North
South
South
South
North
Range
E or W?
East
West
East
East
West
West
use your Livermore Topo map to check yourself
Answers
G
section
#
29
H
25
2
North
2
East
J
10
2
South
2
West
K
13
4
South
3
West
L
21
3
South
4
East
Position
Township
#
N or S?
3
North
#
2
Range
E or W?
West
Page 18