Vocabulary
Reading topo maps
Key ideas
100

Shows the shape of Earth's surface (elevation field of the surface of the Earth)

Topographic map

100

Hatcher lines indicate what type of feature?

Depressions

100

The spacing between contour lines shows you have _____/_____ the slope is

steep / gentle

200

A cross sectional view that shows the elevation of the land along a particular baseline

profile

200

Contour lines that are close together indicate this type of slope

steep

200

A profile is a _________ view of a feature

side

300

The height above sea level

elevation

300

If contour lines overlapping a stream "V" towards the northwest, the stream must be flowing

southeast

300

Write the formula for gradient

Change in field value / distance

400

Also known as average slope.  The rate of change in field values between two points in a field.

Gradient

400

When distance is given in miles, elevation should be expressed in this unit

feet

400

contour lines bend when crossing a river and point towards the ____________

source

500

Connect points of equal pressure

Isobar

500

If the last labelled contour line before a depression is 100 ft, and the contour interval is 20ft, the rim of the depression is at what elevation?

100ft

500

When the ocean is marked on a topographic map, the elevation at that point is ____

0