What are contour lines on a topographic map?

Contour lines are lines on topographic maps that indicate locations of constant elevation. These lines convey three-dimensional information and help map users identify various landform patterns such as ridges, valleys, hills, and plateaus. The elevation interval between contour lines varies depending on terrain detail and topographic variation in the mapped region.

How do you construct a topographic profile from a topographic map?

To construct a topographic profile, establish a line between two labeled points (A-A') on the map. Place a paper strip along this line and mark where contour lines intersect it, noting their elevations. Transfer these marks to graph paper with elevation on the Y-axis and distance on the X-axis, then connect the plotted points to create a continuous line showing terrain elevation changes.

What is vertical exaggeration in topographic profiles?

Vertical exaggeration is a scaling technique applied to the Y-axis of a topographic profile to accentuate terrain ruggedness. This method is beneficial when demonstrating steep or rugged terrain features. However, vertical exaggeration should be avoided when the profile is used to project geologic features or cross-sections, as it distorts subsurface interpretations.

Why are topographic profiles useful for field work and surveys?

Topographic profiles help field scientists assess terrain difficulty and feasibility for sampling or transect work. By visualizing local terrain steepness and ruggedness, researchers can plan appropriate routes for geological or biological surveys and determine the difficulty of traversing different areas by various modes of transport such as hiking, biking, or driving.

How do contour line intervals vary on topographic maps?

Contour line intervals depend on terrain characteristics and map detail requirements. Regions with significant topographic variation typically use contour lines separated by 40 to 100 feet, while generally flat-lying areas with little variation use more broadly separated 10 to 20 foot contours. This variation allows maps to provide appropriate detail for their specific terrain.

What is the relationship between topographic profiles and geologic cross-sections?

Topographic profiles serve as the land-surface foundation for constructing geologic cross-sections, which graphically project surface rock or soil layers into the subsurface. These cross-sections provide crucial side views of Earth's interior for interpreting geologic features and locating resources like groundwater reservoirs, oil and gas deposits, or regions of folding or faulting.

What practical applications do topographic profiles have for infrastructure planning?

Topographic profiles are valuable tools for planning roads, railroads, pipelines, and hiking trails by informing professionals and recreational users of terrain characteristics in target areas. They help evaluate terrain steepness and ruggedness, enabling better assessment of construction feasibility and route difficulty across different landscapes.

Using Topographic Maps to Generate Topographic Profiles

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Obtain a topographic map.
Establish a line between two specified points on the map. Call these points, A-A', or X-X', or Y-Y'.
Lay the edge of a paper strip along the cross-section line, marking the two points, A-A', with tick marks.
Place a tick mark where each of the contour lines intersects the line of the cross-section. Add notations that indicate the elevations of those contour lines.
1. If there is substantial topographic variation along the chosen line, A-A', start by only marking the intersection of the line with the major contours. The major contours (also called index contours) are those that show up on the map as bold, slightly heavier lines.
  1. For example, major contours on a 7.5-minute quadrangle map are typically used to indicate 200 ft. intervals on the map, with the standard contour lines representing 40 ft. intervals. This means that between every major contour, there are 4 standard contours (representing 5 steps in elevation to move from one major contour to the next).
  2. Along certain portions of the cross-section line, there may be steep topographic variation, and therefore, closely-spaced contour lines. Here, mark only the major contours. Where there is little topographic variation, mark all contours (where they intersect the cross-section line).
Set the paper with the tick marks along the x-axis of a piece of graph paper. Transfer the elevation marks onto the y-axis with a dot.
1. This generates a graph of elevation (y-axis) versus distance along the A-A' line.
2. The scale of the x-axis is defined by the map itself. The scale of the y-axis can be chosen to be equivalent to the map scale (resulting in no vertical exaggeration), or it can be chosen such that the small elevation variations are effectively "stretched out" (resulting in vertical exaggeration).
Smooth the profile by connecting the dots, recognizing that most topographic variation in the real world does not exist in abrupt steps.

Topographic profiles give a side-on view of the terrain of an area of interest.

Topographic maps are a standard map view that provides aerial perspective and three-dimensional representation of the Earth's surface. These can be used to generate side-on views of the land, also known as topographic profiles.

When planning roads, railroads, pipelines, or hiking trails, topographic profiles can be a valuable tool to inform the professional or recreational user of the terrain in a target area.

This video will illustrate the process of making topographic profiles from topographic maps.

Among the defining features of topographic maps are the contour lines, which notate elevation. These lines convey three-dimensional information, and can inform the map user of various landform patterns, such as ridges, valleys, hills, or plateaus.

In topographic mapping, maps produced can vary in detail and scale, often dependent on the subject terrain. The elevation interval between the contour lines is one aspect that may vary. For example, in regions with significant topographic variation, maps may use contour lines of 40 to 100 feet. In generally flat-lying areas with little variation, maps may use more broadly separated 10 to 20 foot contours.

The precise composition and ability to extract dependable elevation data for any point on the topographic map allows for construction of topographic profiles. These "side-on" cross-sectional views are constructed using a line established between points, and recording contours crossing this line.

The subsequent data is plotted as a graph of elevation, with elevation plotted on the Y-axis, and the contour crossings along the X-axis. When these points are joined, this allows the user to see how the surface rises and falls along this hypothetical line.

Depending on the intended use of the map, vertical exaggeration can be applied to the Y-axis. This can be beneficial in scenarios where the topographic profile is being utilized to show the ruggedness of the terrain. In scenarios where the primary use of the topographic profile is to project geologic features or cross-sections, vertical exaggeration is best avoided.

Topographic profiles can be extremely useful, and provide a starting point for making geologic cross-sections that project rock structures or layers into the subsurface. In a very general sense, we find that ridges are composed of resistant rocks and valleys are composed of less-resistant, easily eroded rocks.

Now that we are familiar with topographic maps and making topographic profiles, let's take a look at how this is carried out.

The first step in making a topographic profile is to obtain a topographic map. These can be generated by the scientist, or gathered from a geological survey agency. Once an appropriate map has been selected, topographic profiling can be started.

Establish a line between two points that intersects the region of interest on the map. These should be labeled as A-A'. Take a strip of paper, and lay it along the cross section line between the two points. On the strip of paper, place a tick mark where each of the contour lines intersects the line of the paper cross-section. Add notations indicating the elevations of those contour lines. Where there is little topographic variation, mark all contours. If there is substantial topographic variation along the chosen line, begin by only marking the intersection of the major, or "index" contours. These are seen in bold on the map.

On graph paper, draw the region of interest. Choose a scale for the y-axis with or without exaggeration. Set the tick marks along the x-axis and transfer each elevation mark onto the graph with a dot. This generates a graph of elevation versus distance along the A-A' line. Connect these dots to make a continuous line.

The map defines the scale of the x-axis, but the Y-axis can be chosen to show a realistic view, or one that accentuates the local topography to demonstrate rugged terrain.

The ability to visualize local terrain is important in a variety of applications.

Evaluating the ruggedness or steepness of a terrain can be useful in assessing the difficulty of traversing a particular area. This can be applicable in different ways for different modes of transport such as hiking, biking, or driving. Field work for geological or biological surveys may require making a transect through an area for the purpose of taking measurements or collecting samples. Topographic profiles can inform field scientists of the feasibility and difficulty of sampling in different regions and facilitate planning of an appropriate transect.

Topographic profiles are the land-surface basis for constructing geologic cross-sections. These sections are a graphical projection of surface rock or soil layers into the subsurface, and provide a side view of the Earth's interior crucial to interpreting all kinds of geologic features. These can be used for many applications, including locating likely sources of ground water reservoirs, possible oil and gas pockets, or regions of folding or faulting.

Most topography on Earth is a consequence of the interplay between erosion and uplift, which is caused by volcanism, tectonism, tidal forcing, and impacts. Detailed analyses of topographic variations are a critical part of assessing terrain evolution.

You've just watched JoVE's introduction to topographic maps and profiles. You should now understand the importance of topographic maps, how to make topographic profiles, and how these profiles can be useful to geologists and communities as a whole.

Thanks for watching!