Topographic Profiling

Notice line AB

Take out a piece of scrap paper

Make a small tick at A and B

Make a small tick where each contour line crosses AB

Label each tick mark with the correct value!

Make the X-axis exactly as long as line AB. Label it as “distance”

Next, decide what the HIGHEST and LOWEST elevation values are that line AB crosses on your topographic map and create a scale. You may wish to increase your scale by the contour interval on the map to make things easier. In this case, we are going up by 10’s, because our contour interval on the map is 10 meters.

Remember Labels and Units!

Hold your scrap paper page up to the profile.

Transfer the tick marks directly onto the profile.

straight edge may help

connect the dots!

This is what you might expect the “profile” or cross section view of line AB to look like!

There is a creek flowing through this region There is a creek flowing through this region. Think about where it would flow on your profile. We also recognize the V shaped contour lines that indicate the direction of water flow.

YOU DID IT!