Aim: How can we visualize what contour maps are showing us?

Taken from: www.newyorkscienceteacher. com

Nick DAnna HHS 2007 Adapted from R. DeMarco

TOPOGRAPHIC PROFILES
TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS SHOW THE ELEVATION OR VERTICAL DISTANCE ABOVE SEA LEVEL OF THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH TOPOGRAPHIC PROFILE IS A SIDE VIEW OF AN AREA.

So, if we were to look at a profile view of line AB on our topographic map, what might we expect to see? Predictions?
Time to FIND OUT!

Step 2

Make the X-axis exactly as long as line AB.

Next, decide what the HIGHEST and LOWEST elevation values are that line AB crosses on your topographic map and create a scale. You may wish to increase your scale by the contour interval on the map to make things easier. In this case, we are going up by 10s, because our contour interval on the map is 10 meters.

Hold your scrap paper page up to the profile.

Transfer the tick marks directly onto the profile.

This is what you might expect the profile or cross section view of line AB to look like! Notice how the line dips below

Does it make sense? SURE! There is a creek flowing through this region. Think about where it would flow on your profile. We also recognize the V shaped contour lines that indicate the direction of water flow.

The contour lines point up the page (orange), but Long Creek flows

Contour lines point upstream. Stream flows from high elevation to low elevation. So a stream flows in the oppostite direction the contours point.

CONTOUR LINES BEND WHEN CROSS STREAMS UPSIDE DOWN VS POINT UPSTREAM STREAMS FLOW DOWN

Or if you are lucky enough to be able to do your profile on the same page as the topographic map
You can use the: Drop down a dotted line method!

Same idea, but no need for tick marks and scrap paper!