Geology/topography Terms

Front 1

Represent variations in the elevation of the Earth's surface through the use of contour line. 3-D surface projected onto 2-D page.

Back 1

Topographic maps

Front 2

East-west lines that are constant distance from the equator and from each other. Specified in degrees north or south of the equator.

Back 2

Latitude/Parallels

Front 3

Lines running north-south that converge at the poles and are perpendicular to the equator. Specified in degrees eat of west of the prime meridian that passes through Greenwich, England.

Back 3

Longitude/Meridians

Front 4

The surface distance between longitue lines is ____at the equator and _____to zero at the poles.

Back 4

greatest, decreases

Front 5

Feet in a mile.

Back 5

5280

Front 6

Known as quadrangles. Come in various scales.

Back 6

USGS Topographic Maps

Front 7

The large scale 7 1/2 minute series quadrangles cover ___ degree in each direction.

Back 7

1/8

Front 8

NJ divided into ___ quadrangles in the 7.5 minute series.

Back 8

173

Front 9

Each quadrangle names after ______.

Back 9

a prominent town or feature on the map

Front 10

Distance on the map relative to distnace on the earth

Back 10

Scale

Front 11

1 inch equals 1 mile on earth's surface

Back 11

Verbal Scale

Front 12

1/63360. 1 inch on the map equals 63360 inches, or 1 mile, on the earth's surface.

Back 12

Fractional Scale

Front 13

1:63360. where 1 inch on the map equals 63360 inches, or 1 mile, on the earth's surface. AKA Representative Scale

Back 13

Proportional Scale

Front 14

0________1__________2_______3
Where 1 inch on the map equals 1 mile on the earth's surface.

Back 14

Graphic Scale

Front 15

Lines which connect all points of equal elevation on th earth's surface. Take earth's 3D topography and convert them into 2D maps.

Back 15

Contour Lines

Front 16

6 Contour Line Rules

Back 16

1. Constant spacing between Contour Lines
2. Every 5th line darkened
3. Closed contour lines represent knobs or hills.
4. Hatchure contour lines represent depressions.
5. Contour spacing reflects gradient.
6. Rule of Vs

Front 17

Constant spacing of contour lines

Back 17

Contour Intervals

Front 18

Most common contour interval

Back 18

20 feet

Front 19

Tightly spaced contours represent ____

Back 19

Steep gradients

Front 20

Widely spaced contours represent ____

Back 20

Gradual slopes

Front 21

When contour lines cross streams they form a ___

Back 21

V

Front 22

V points ____

Back 22

upstream

Front 23

3 Rules of Vs

Back 23

1. streams erode their bedrock
2. always flow down gradient.
3. directly across a stream, you must go upstream to find a point of equal elevation. This creates the V.

Front 24

2D topographic map can be turned into a profile of the earth in cross section. As if you were to walk along the earth's surface.

Back 24

Cross Sectional Profile

Front 25

Record of the exact elevation at a particular elevation. Typically a brass circular plate permanently embedded in a rock.

Back 25

Bench Marks

Front 26

USGS

Back 26

United States Geologic Survey

Front 27

Symbols on Topographic Maps

Back 27

roadways, bridges, quarries, rivers, etc given a symbol

Front 28

Change in elevation between two points divided by the distance between the two points. (rise/run)

Back 28

Gradient (Slope)

Front 29

Water will accumulate in areas with ___ gradient. May cause swamp.

Back 29

poor/gradual

Front 30

Ratio between the vertical scale on a cross sectional profile and the horizontal scale on the map.

Back 30

Vertical Exaggeration

Front 31

Vertical scale larger _____

Back 31

Elongates a cross sectional profile in the vertical direction.

Front 32

Horizontal scale larger ____

Back 32

elongate a cross sectional profile in the horizontal direction

Front 33

The angle a compass needle makes with the magnetic axis of the earth. Equator=0 Poles= 90 Allows you to approximate latitude

Back 33

Magnetic Declination

Front 34

Uses and Importance of Topographic Maps

Back 34

1. How to buy a house.
2. Surveying, land and roadway development
3. Fishing, hunting, hiking

Front 35

How to Buy a House details

Back 35

1. poor contour spacing: poor drainage
2. nearby rivers: flood plains, cut banks
3. railroads, hiking trails, roadways
4. quarries
5 state parks, wildlife refuges, etc

Front 36

1 degree=

Back 36

60 minutes

Front 37

1 minute

Back 37

60 seconds

Front 38

.5 degrees

Back 38

30 minutes

Front 39

Not rectangle, not square. Lines of latitude curve towards the poles creating a four sided geometic figure.

Back 39

Quadrangle

Front 40

Measured distance vertically above sea level

Back 40

Elevation