The altitude of Polaris = latitude North of Equator!

West is earlier (AM), and east is later (PM)!

EQUATOR 0O Latitude

PRIME MERIDIAN

0O

Longitude

All Longitudes in NY are West All Latitudes in NY are N

orthPrime Meridian

Equator

NYS to the minute

1o = 60’

Contours (isolines)connect measurements in a field of equal value

REMEMBER: make “loops” or “take it off” and label!

The air-pressure field map represents a high-pressure system over the central United States. Isobars show the air pressure in millibars (mb).

(1) A and C (3) C and D

(2) B and E (4) D and E

Areas of equal pressure may be found at locations

What is a possible elevation, in meters, of point X?

(1) 55 (3) 68

(2) 57 (4) 70

The map shows sea-level air pressure in millibars for a portion of the eastern coast of North America.

The air pressure recorded at point D was most likely

(1)1014 mb (3) 1010 mb

(2) 1012 mb (4) 1006 mb

TOPOGRAPHY – contours of land

• Distance

• Legend (w/ directional)

• Contour Interval

• Sea level

• Slope (or Gradient)

• Rivers (& their

direction)

The small map identifies the New York State region shown

in the topographic map.

What is the elevation of point A on the

topographic map?

(1) 1,700 ft

(2) 1,600 ft

(3) 1,650 ft

(4) 1,550 ft

When is it a hill and when is it a

hole in the ground?

HATCHER LINES mean decreasing

20 202030

40 10

What is the value of Point A if the contour

interval is 25 m?

(1) 125 m

(2) 100 m

(3) 75 m

(4) 65 m

C

How about Point C?

60 m (51 – 74 m)

The topographic map of an island below

measures elevations in meters and has a scale of 1cm = 2 km

What is the CONTOUR

INTERVAL of this map?

(1) 40 m

(2) 10 m

(3) 0 m

(4) 20 m

The topographic map of an island below

measures elevations in meters and has a scale of 1cm = 2 km

What is the elevation of

Point B?

(1) 40 m

(2) 10 m

(3) 0 m

(4) 20 m

The topographic map of an island below

measures elevations in meters and has a scale of 1cm = 2 km

What is the elevation of

Point D?

(1) 40 m

(2) 10 m

(3) 0 m

(4) 20 m

Which point on this map MAY HAVE an elevation of 73

m?

A

What is the

elevation of points:

A

B

C

D

E

70m

20m

30m

10m

-10m (between 0m & -20m!)

Elevations are in meters.

When is it steep?

The topographic map below shows two hills labeled A and B. The tributary streams labeled X and Y have the same volume of water.

Which statement is best supported by the map?

(1) Hill A is higher than hill B.

(2) Stream X flows faster than stream Y.

(3) Hill B is higher than hill A.

(4) Stream Y flows faster than stream X.

Lines are

closer

together so

it is

steeper!

DON’T FORGET

THAT WATER ALWAYS FLOWS

DOWN!!!

Look for V shape (water

flows opposite)

Read contour values.

Which way is down?

In which compass direction does the water flow in Long Creek?

SW

78.

Which direction does Copper Creek flow?

NW

The topographic map below shows a lake and two rivers.

In which direction does each of the rivers flow?

(1) The Sapphire River and the Garnet River both flow east.

(2) The Sapphire River and the Garnet River both flow west.

(3) The Sapphire River flows east and the Garnet River flows west.

(4) The Sapphire River flows west and the Garnet River flows east.

The topographic map below shows part of a stream.

In which general direction is the stream flowing?

(1) northeast

(2) northwest

(3) southeast

(4) southwest

Profiles

Profiles look at an area from the side (when traveling from one place to another)

Contour lines look at an area from above (bird’s eye view)

What is the

elevation of Point A

25Draw a profile from Point X to

Point Y

G

RA

DIE

NT

& Rate

& Rate

& Rate

& Rate

& Rate

GRADIENT- The change in any value from one location to another (“over a distance”).

0 ft

10 ft

20 ft

.5 mile distance

20 foot elevation change

Gradient = change in field value/distance = 20 ft/0.5 mi = 40 ft/mi

Gradients are calculated for many things, like:

The gradient (or slope) of a hill.

The temperature gradient between two states.

The snowfall gradient between two cities.

Same day in Minneapolis and Miami

0 min 5 min 10 min

RATE is the change in any value as time passes.

0 ft

10 ft

20 ft

20 foot elevation change

10 min time

change

Rate = change in value/time = 20 ft/10 min = 2 ft/min

The map at left shows pressure

measured in mb. The distance between the

points is 500 Km. CALCULATE the

pressure gradient.

Gradient = Change in field value/ distance

Gradient = 1004 mb – 976 mb/ 500 Km = 28 mb/ 500 Km

Gradient = 0.056 mb/ Km

Air moves like water.

Big gradient = Fast

Small gradient = Slow

The STEEPER the AIR hill, the faster the wind moves from HIGH to Low

pressure!

Which location most likely recorded the highest wind speed?

(1)A (3)C

(2)B (4)D