Topographic Maps Mapping, Topography, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

Topographic Maps

Mapping, Topography, and Global Positioning Systems

(GPS)

ActivityActivity

Map the classroom. Include or Omit anything you find necessary

It’s up to you how to do it

Map the classroom. Include or Omit anything you find necessary

It’s up to you how to do it

DiscussionDiscussion

What elements did you include?

What makes a good map? Why do we need maps

What elements did you include?

What makes a good map? Why do we need maps

Elements found on ALL Maps

» Distance or Scale» Direction» Legend» Sources

Distance or Scale

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Direction



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Sources

» Sources will provide information regarding Age, Accuracy, and Reliability of Map?

» The source for our “Classroom Map” is obviously yourself but for a contour map of the area a more reliable source like the USGS would be important

LOCATION OF MAP

» The location of a map is the most important thing

» The reason we look at maps is to derive location and to help us navigate.

» Latitude and Longitude is used to determine location

Latitude and Longitude

» Imaginary lines used to determine location universally around the world

» Coordinate System: » (Latitude N or S, Longitude E or W)

» Every location on Earth has a unique set of coordinates. » Where I am standing has different set of coordinates from where each of you is sitting

Lines of Latitude

» Lines of Latitude: » Parallels. Run from Equator to North/South Poles

» Equator = 0 degrees» North/South Pole = 90 degrees» “Ladder-tude”» 1 degree = 69 miles

Lines of Latitude (“LADDER-TUDE”)



Lines of Longitude

» Vertical Lines known as Meridians» Run through poles» Spaced apart at equator, very close at poles

» Prime Meridian = 0 degrees (Greenwich, England)

» Up to 180 degrees west or east» 180+ 180 = 360 = Degrees in a circle» 0 - 180 degrees west = Western Hemisphere» 0- 180 degrees east = Eastern Hemispeher

Lines of Longitude



Lat/Long working together

» LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION» Coordinate system with two variables

» EXACT LOCATION!

» Degrees, Minutes, Seconds» Minutes are 1/60 of a degree» Seconds are 1/60 of a minute

» 60 seconds make up one minute. 60 minutes make up one degree. » One degree is made of 60 minutes. In each minute there is 60 seconds

Burlington, WI

» 42 º40’ 40” N, 88 º16’ 41” W» Read: “42 degrees, 40 minutes, 40 seconds North… 88 degrees, 16 minutes, 41 seconds W

» What does it mean: Burlington is about 42.5 degrees north of Eqautor and about 90 degrees W of prime meridian (0 º)

42 º40’ 40” N, 88 º16’ 41” W

» Notice:» 1st number= Latitude

42 degrees + some

» 2nd number = Longitude 88 degrees + some

» Both are labeled with directions» Coordinates:

(Latitude N or S, Longitude E or W)

Help me find: 35N , 120W



ActivityActivity

Use world maps to determine coordinates of locations on your note sheet with partner.

After completion, write 3 sets of coordinates on separate sheet of paper to hand to another group

You will receive a set from someone else and will need to determine those as well.

Use world maps to determine coordinates of locations on your note sheet with partner.

After completion, write 3 sets of coordinates on separate sheet of paper to hand to another group

You will receive a set from someone else and will need to determine those as well.

Topographic Maps

• What are they?• Why do Earth Scientists use them?

• What can you find out from them?

Qualities of Topo Maps

• Show natural and human made features

• Use contour lines to show slope and elevation

• Create a visual representation of a 3D landform

Contour Lines

• All contour maps have contour lines• Contour Line: Lines on a map representing equal elevation– Show elevation usually measured in feet above sea level

• Usually they will create circles• Can be extremely confusing if you don’t understand the fundamental concept that:CONTOUR LINES REPRESENT ELEVATION

Examples of Topo Maps and Contours:



Contour Lines and Index Contours

• What is this map representing?



Topo Map (Island) and Rule of V’s



Topographic Map Vocab:

• Contour Lines- Lines depicting elevation, change in elevation, and TOPOGRAPHY (Land forms)

• Contour Interval- the designated elevation difference between two Contour Lines

• Index Contour- The thicker, darker lines on a contour map denoting important elevations (100 ft, 5000M etc)

Vocab Continued:

• Scale- relationship between distance on a map and distance it represents on earth

• Quadrangles- Term for a topographic map with four equal sides.

• Rule of the V’s- when a stream passes over contour lines it creates characteristic “V’s” in the contour pattern. The “V’s” indicate a stream and will point UPSTREAM

Uses of Topographic Maps

• We have learned that Topographic maps take a 3D object and turn it into a 2D picture

• It is time for us to learn what we can do with them

Slope,Relief, Gradient

• Slope- how steep or flat something is.

• Relief- change in elevation over a given distance– High Relief: high amount of change

– Low Relief: low change

Relief

• What is an area of high relief?

• What is an area of low relief?

• Why would it be useful to know the slope and relief of an area?

High Relief/ Low Relief



Relief



Gradient

• Gradient- The amount of change over a given distance– Slope, Relief, and Gradient are all related

• Rise/ Run– Change in Elevation / Distance

Topographic Profile





Topographic Profile

• Creating a cross section of our map

• High Level Thinking!– Taking a 2D object and making a 3D image in your head. Then taking that 3D image and cutting it in half

• What does it show us?– The elevation changes, gradient, slope, relief

Depression Contours

• Sometimes an area being mapped will have depressions.

• To help them stand out maps makers use a new types of contour line indicating a decrease in elevation

Depression Contours

• Depression Contour- Contour line with hash marks points to center of depression





Documents

Topographic Maps Mapping, Topography, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS)