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Understanding Topographic Profiles: A Step-by-Step Guide

In this lesson, we explore topographic profiles using Hess and McKnight’s Physical Geography text. A topographic profile provides a "side view" along a line drawn over a topographic map, illustrating elevation changes. Students will learn to construct profiles from contour lines, record elevations, and mark features like peaks and valleys. We will also discuss vertical exaggeration, its purpose, and calculations for more accurate representations. This is a crucial skill for understanding landscape features and map interpretation.

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Understanding Topographic Profiles: A Step-by-Step Guide

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  1. Office Hours Mon: 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM & 1:45 PM to 3:00 PM Wed: 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM Thr: 9:15 AM to 12:30 PM Fri: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

  2. Lesson 9 Topographic Profiles Hess, McKnight’s Physical Geography, 10 ed. A3-A4

  3. What is a “topographic profile?” • Last week we discussed USGS topographic maps • 3D landscape on a 2D map • Use contour lines to connect equal elevation intervals • This is known as a “plain-view” map • A topographic profile is literally a “side view” along a line drawn over the topographic map • They show changes in elevation along a line

  4. Constructing a Topographic Profile • On the topographic map, determine what profile you would like to measure • For this exercise & the homework, this is given as the line segment AB • If a computer program is not available, lay a piece of paper down along line AB • Start from point A: wherever a contour line intersects the edge of the paper, place a short tick mark AND write down the elevation • Continue along the line to point B • Along the way, mark wherever a mountain peak, valley, or stream is located • Also mark any other important features (roads, buildings, etc)

  5. Constructing a Topographic Profile, cont. • Next, transfer your paper with the tick marks, elevation, and features to a chart (will be provided) • Align your writing along the bottom of the chart • Start at point A: transfer your measurements along the X and Y-axis’ moving toward point B. • Connect the dots • Finish by adding the locations of mountain peaks, streams, roads ,etc.

  6. Example 1

  7. Example 1, cont.

  8. Example 1, cont.

  9. SnowvilleTopo Example: • Using the Snowville topographic map from last week, construct a profile along line AB. • The elevation at point A is 2093 • The elevation at point B is 2085 • Remember to draw both contour lines as “tick marks” AND important features

  10. SnowvilleTopo • Let’s see how our hand-drawn profile compares to a computer-generated image. • http://www.geocontext.org/publ/2010/04/profiler/en/

  11. Vertical Exaggeration • In our previous example, the y-axis intervals were the same as the elevation contours on the topographic map • In our case, the vertical scale we used matched the horizontal scale • This brings us to vertical exaggeration

  12. Vertical Exaggeration, cont. • Vertical exaggeration is created to emphasizes differences in elevation and to show relief • e.g., when there is a large amount of V. E., small hills appear to be tall mountain peaks on the graph

  13. Vertical Exaggeration, con.t

  14. Vertical Exaggeration, cont. • To determine the amount of V. E., simply divide the horizontal distance one inch represents by the vertical distance one inch represents

  15. Vertical Exaggeration, con.t • For the Snowville topographic profile: • The vertical distance on the graph was • 1” = ~100’ • The horizontal distance on the graph (not shown) was • 1” = ~100’ • Divide the horizontal (scale) distance by the vertical distance: • = 1.0 • Thus the V. E. is 1.0 X (or the same as the horizontal distance)

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