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

2. Activity Map the classroom.
Include or Omit anything you find necessary
It’s up to you how to do it

3. Discussion What elements did you include? What makes a good map?
Why do we need maps

4. Elements found on ALL Maps
Distance or Scale
Direction
Legend
Sources

5. Distance or Scale

6. Direction

7. Legend

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Lines of Latitude Lines of Latitude: Equator = 0 degrees
Parallels. Run from Equator to North/South Poles
Equator = 0 degrees
North/South Pole = 90 degrees
“Ladder-tude”
1 degree = 69 miles

12. Lines of Latitude (“LADDER-TUDE”)

13. 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
= 360 = Degrees in a circle
degrees west = Western Hemisphere
degrees east = Eastern Hemispeher

14. Lines of Longitude

15. 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

16. 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)

17. 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)

18. Help me find: 35N , 120W

19. Activity
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.

20. Topographic Maps What are they? Why do Earth Scientists use them?
What can you find out from them?

21. 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

22. 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

23. Examples of Topo Maps and Contours:

24. Contour Lines and Index Contours
What is this map representing?

25. Topo Map (Island) and Rule of V’s

26. 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)

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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?

31. High Relief/ Low Relief

32. Relief

33. Gradient Gradient- The amount of change over a given distance
Slope, Relief, and Gradient are all related
Rise/ Run
Change in Elevation / Distance

34. Topographic Profile

35. 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

36. 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

37. Depression Contours
Depression Contour- Contour line with hash marks points to center of depression