Topographic Map Contour Interval
Topographic maps conventionally show topography or land contours by means of contour lines.
Topographic map contour interval. Topographic maps do not show every contour line rather they choose sample of the lines. Often index points are given along with index contours. The brown lines weaving all around the map are known as contour lines each contour line represents a. For example the maps on the previous page used a 10 ft contour interval.
Because it s impractical to mark the elevation of every contour line on the map the index contour lines are the only ones labeled. For instance if the map uses a 20 foot interval there are contour lines at zero 20 40 60 80 and 100 feet. For example every 20 50 200 metres depending on the scale of the map. Contour lines are curves that connect contiguous points of the same altitude isohypse.
Each the contour lines was a multiple of 10 ft i e. The contour interval is an even space that represents an increase in elevation. To make topographic maps easier to read every fifth contour line is an index contour. Look in the margin of your map to find out its contour interval.
Answer to bb topo maps 11711 202060 bb home page 11714 202060 x 2483685 x topographic map symbols lab 4 worksheet topo maps spri x x c a. This is called the contour interval of the map. For example a topographical map of an area near denver might have index contours of 5 000 5 100 and so on with a contour interval of 20 feet. This means that there would be five spaces and four non index contour lines between each index contour.
For any given map the contour interval is always the same within that map. These elevations are chosen to be evenly spaced vertically. A contour interval in surveying is the vertical distance or the difference in the elevation between the two contour lines in a topographical map. In other words every point on the marked line of 100 m elevation is 100 m above mean sea level.
Usually there are different contour intervals for the different maps. A word of warning.