Topographic Maps
Name Student # Classwork: Topographic Maps 1. The corners of all topographic maps are labeled with latitude and longitude. The map below shows all four corners of the Lone Peak, ID map. Based on these corners, answer the following questions: What is the latitude of the NW corner? (2 pts) What is the longitude of the NE corner? (2 pts) How many degrees of longitude are spanned by the map? (2 pts) How many degrees of latitude are spanned by the map? (2 pts) 2. Topographic maps are divided into series. The series is always listed underneath the quadrangle name in the righthand corner of the map. Most series maps are defined and named by equal increments of latitude and longitude; e.g., a “15 minute series” map. a. What kind of map series is the Logan Pass quadrangle map? (2 pts) Latitude: b. Based on your answer to (a), what is the latitude and longitude at the SW corner of the map? (6 pts) Longitude: c. Quadrangle maps are always named for a prominent geographic feature on the map–a town, mountain, lake, etc. What feature is the Logan Pass, MT Quadrangle named after? (This question is as easy as it seems) (2 pts) 3. The map scale is always located at the bottom of the map, and is shown as two numbers separated by a colon (:). These numbers indicate the factor by which objects on the map have been shrunk relative to the real world. For instance, a scale of 1:62,500 means that objects on the map are 1/62,500 as large as they are in reality. The image below is taken from the Frosty Creek, WA topographic map: What is the map scale for the Frosty Creek quadrangle map? (2 pts) pts)topographic map? If you were to print out the Frosty Creek, WA topographic map, you’d find that the total distance across the map from west to east is 45 cm. How long is this distance in the real world? Give your answer km. (5 pts) If you wanted a map that provided great detail, would you rather have a map with a scale of 1:6,000 or a map with a scale of 1:100,000? Explain your answer. (4 pts) There’s a lot of information included in the key to a topographic map. For example, many quadrangle maps are needed to cover a large area, and often it is useful to know the maps that are adjacent to the one you are looking at. The USGS (the government agency that makes the maps) has used two different methods to display this information. On some maps, the adjoining quadrangles are written along the boundaries and corners of the map. On some newer maps, a small inset diagram shows the layout and names of the surrounding quadrangles. What quadrangle adjoins the Frosty Creek quadrangle to the east? (2 pts) What quadrangle adjoins it to the southwest? (2 pts) When was the Frosty Creek, WA-BC topographic map made? (2 pts) From what part of WA/BC is the Frosty Creek quadrangle? (2 pts) 4. The feature that distinguishes a topographic map from other maps is the swarm of brown lines which are used to indicate elevation. These lines, called contour lines, depict the shape of the landscape. To make the map easier to read, not all contour lines are labeled with their elevation. Normally every fifth contour line is labeled and is also printed a little darker than the others to make it stand out. These contour lines are called index contours. The elevation of contour lines between index contours must be inferred by counting up (or down) from an index contour using the contour interval. The elevation of every point on a topographic map can be determined by studying the elevation of the nearby contour lines. This can sometimes be tricky. If a point actually lies on a contour line, then determining its elevation is easy–it’s just the elevation of the contour line. If, as is more typical, a point lies between two contour lines then its elevation must be inferred. When the surrounding contour lines are different (the usual case) the elevation of the point must be between these values. For example, a point lying between the 50 foot and 60 foot contour lines must be between 50 and 60 feet–say, 52 feet if the point is closer to the 50 foot contour, or 58 feet if it is closer to the 60 foot contour, or maybe even 55 feet if it is nearly in the middle. Contour lines that form closed loops enclose eithers hills or depressions. In most cases they enclose a hill, or rise, since these are much more common features of the landscape. When the contours enclose a depression they will sometimes have little ‘tick-marks’ on them indicating the direction downhill. The following questions refer to the Mansfield, WA topogrpahic map. For convenience, I’ve shown enlargements of pertinent areas below. What is the contour interval of the Mansfield Quadrangle? (2 pts) B A What is the elevation of Pt A (at the X)? Give your answer to the nearest foot. (3 pts) What is the elevation of Pt B (at the X)? Give your answer to the nearest foot. (3 pts) 5. Answer the following questions from the Sutwik Island, AK quadrangle map, parts of which are shown below: A B What is the contour interval? (2 pts) What is the elevation of Pt A (at the X)? Give your answer to the nearest foot. (3 pts) What is the elevation of Pt B (at the X)? Give your answer to the nearest foot. (3 pts) What is the highest elevation on the seen in this figure? Estimate the elevation to the nearest 10 feet. (3 pts) 6. Use the rule of V’s to estimate the direction the stream on the map below is flowing. Indicate the flow direction with an arrow on the map. (5 pts) 7. You will need to use the UTM coordinate system to locate features on topographic maps. In many ways, it’s easier than using latitude and longitude, and certainly easier to calculate distances because you can use the Pathagorean Theorem. Examine the upper left-corner of the Bridgewater East, SD topographic map shown below and answer the following questions: What is the UTM easting position of the intersection of 437th Ave and 260th St? Make sure you specify units! (3 pts) What is the UTM northing position of this intersection Again, specify units! (3 pts) How far is it between the two red X’s? Give your answer in km (5 pts) 8. The detail below is from the Erdahl, MN topographic map: What geographic feature is found at UTM coordinates 5,084,500 N and 282,300 E? (4 pts) What geographic feature is found at UTM coordinates 5,085,500 N and 283,300 E? (4 pts) 9. Consider the detail from the Borah Peak, ID topographic map: a. Suppose you wanted to reach the summit marked by the x. Would it be easier to hike up from the northeast or from the south? What is your reasoning? (5 pts) b. Consider the path down from the summit marked with the dot. Is this path steepen during your descent, become more gentle during your descent, or remain at a constant grade during your descent? How do you know? (5 pts) 10. Sketch what a topographic profile from A to B would look like. It does not have to be exact; I’m only looking for relative steepness across your profile. (10 pts) B A
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