QUESTION DESCRIPTION
Topography is the rise and fall of a land surface due to surface features in an area. For example, mountains, hills, and valleys are all examples of topography. Topographic maps shows the topography of an area, by showing the features (the high and low places) of a land surface. They show the shape of the land, how steep a slope is, and the elevation of
the land. Elevation is how much something is above or below sea level. At sea level, the elevation is zero. Above sea level, the elevation is a positive number. Below sea level, the elevation is a negative number.
A topographic map has lines that curve all over the map, trying to show you the shape of the land. These lines are called contour lines, and they connect all the places with the same elevation. Contour lines actually connect back to themselves, making circles. However, many of them will not complete their circles on one map. The elevation is labeled on the line. However, each line is not always labeled, since this would make it too difficult to read the numbers if every line had a number written on it. The contour interval
is the difference in elevation between the contour lines. In other words, it is what the lines are counting by. Therefore, you can use the contour interval to determine the elevation of the line you are interested in.
There are a couple “rules” you can use to help you visualize the topography in an area by using the contour lines. First, contour lines never touch or cross because it is impossible to be at two elevations for the same point on Earth. Second, the closer the contour lines are, the steeper the slope. For example, if you only went a short distance on the map and were already many feet higher, that means it is a steep area. On the contrary, the further
the contour lines are apart, the shallower the slope. For example, if you had to go a long distance on the map before your elevation changed, then it is pretty flat. Closed depressions are sometimes shown by putting “tick marks” on the line to indicate that the area is going down, rather than up. However, you can also tell if an area is going up or down in elevation by paying attention to the numbers marked on the contour lines.
Directions: Using your knowledge of earth science and topographic maps, answer the questions below pertaining to some simplified topographic maps. I recommend that you print these questions, fill in your answers, and then input your answers into our online class site so that you can then get credit for the laboratory exercise.
- A topographic map of Mt. Rainier in Washington State is shown below. What is the contour interval of the map? (Note: the elevation numbers will correspond to the contour line that horizontally meets the middle of the number. This is easily seen for the 14,000 contour line, but be careful for the 13,800 and 13,600 lines.)
A. 200 ft.
B. 100 ft.
C. 50 ft.
D. 40 ft.
You will need to examine the topographic map of Mt. Saint Helens provided on our
class site while you work on this lab. You will need to use the zoom feature by
clicking the + or – signs, or by increasing or decreasing the percentage. I
recommend that you print these questions, fill in your answers, and then input your
answers into our online class site so that you can then get credit for the laboratory
exercise.
Part I: Basic Topographic Map Features
All of the information in this section is written somewhere on the map so you will
look around on the map to determine the answers.
- What is the name of this quadrangle?
A. Washington Topography
B. Historic Eruptions
C. Mt. St. Helens
D. Volcanoes of the Pacific Northwest - What part of Washington State is this quadrangle in?
A. Northwest
B. Southwest
C. Northeast
D. Southeast - Is this a 7.5 or a 15 minute quadrangle?
A. 7.5 minute
B. 15 minute - What is the ratio scale of this map?
A. 1:100,000
B. 1:12,000
C. 1:24,000
D. 1:48,000 - To help you understand this ratio, how many meters in real life does 1 cm on the map
equal?
1 cm on the map = _ cm in real life
A. 100,000
B. 12,000
C. 24,000
D. 48,000 - If you wanted to hike eastward past the limit of this map, which quadrangle would you
need a map of (Hint…this map is represented as the empty square surrounded by other
numbered squares at the bottom of the map in the legend)?
A. Smith Creek Butte
B. Goat Mtn.
C. Cedar Flats
D. Spirit Lake East - Benchmarks are locations of known location and elevation. Benchmarks are shown on
the topographic map by an x symbol followed by the elevation value. Using a benchmark,
what is the elevation of the northern peak of Butte Camp Dome (Hint: look in the
southwestern area of the map)?
A. 2831 ft.
B. 4747 ft.
C. 5926 ft.
D. 3891 ft. - What is the symbol for a trail?
A. a single line
B. a double line
C. a dashed single line
D. a dashed double line - What is the symbol for an unimproved road?
A. a single line
B. a double line
C. a dashed single line
D. a dashed double line - What is the contour interval of this map?
A. 10 ft.
B. 25 ft.
C. 40 ft.
D. 50 ft.
Part II: Using Topographic Maps for Measurement and Navigation
Now that you understand the basics, try and find your way around the map. - What is the distance in meters between the northern and southern peaks at Butte
Camp Dome?
A. 200 m
B. 400 m
C. 600 m
D. 800 m - If you hiked east along the Muddy River, would you be traveling uphill or downhill?
A. uphill
B. downhill - Where is the majority of the vegetation located on this map, on the northern or
southern region?
A. northern
B. southern - What low-relief (rather flat) feature is located to the north of Sasquatch steps (in the
N area of the map)?
A. Butte Camp Dome
B. Crescent Ridge
C. Pumice Plains
D. Plains of Abraham - If you wanted to hike to the lava dome to roast marshmallows, what would be the
easiest direction to hike from? Why?
A. The north because it isn’t a steep climb
B. The south because it isn’t a steep climb
C. The east because it has a general store to buy marshmallows
D. The west because it has a general store to buy marshmallows - You are standing at the top of Shoestring Glacier. If you walk directly west, would
you be going up or down in elevation?
A. up
B. down - You are standing at the top of Shoestring Glacier. Would you walk east or west to
have a steeper experience?
A. east
B. west - You are standing at the lava dome. Which compass direction would you travel in
order to get to Crescent Ridge?
A. north
B. south
C. east
D. west - You are standing at the lava dome. Which compass direction would you travel in
order to get to Worm Flows?
A. northeast
B. southwest
C. southeast
D. northwest - You are standing at the lava dome. Which compass direction would you travel in
order to get to Forsyth Glacier?
A. northeast
B. southwest
C. southeast
D. northwest - What feature is present at the base of most glaciers, and is represented by a blue line?
A. trails
B. railroad tracks
C. rivers
D. hotels - What is the approximate length of Shoestring Glacier in km?
A. 1 km
B. 2.25 km
C. 4.5 km
D. 7.25 km - What is the approximate length of Tallus Glacier in km?
A. 1 km
B. 2.25 km
C. 4.5 km
D. 7.25 km - If you hike from the Plains of Abraham and go directly westward, would you be
going uphill or downhill?
A. uphill
B. downhill - Are the rivers in the Sasquatch Steps area flowing northward or southward?
Remember, water always flows downhill!
A. Northward
B. Southward
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