Height on Maps

Contour linesCross sections

Relief

The height and shape of the land is known as the relief. This can be shown on a map in 3 ways:

• By layer shading• Spot heights and trig stations• Contour lines

Layer Shading

This is where different colours are used to represent different heights above sea level.

eg) from sea level to 500mfrom 500m to 1000mfrom 1000m to 1500m

Layer shading on a map.

Layer shading on a map of the UK

Spot heights and trig stations

Major relief features such as mountain tops often have the exact height shown.

Spot heights are usually approximate. Trig stations are very

accurate as they are based on ground surveys. In the field, they usually look like a block of concrete set into the ground with a black and white wooden beacon built over them. Trig station at the top of

Mount John in NZ.

Contours

These are brown lines on a map that join places with the same height.

Every point along a contour line is the same height as is stated.

Lines are drawn at common intervals. The closer the contours are together, the

steeper the slope. The contour interval is always constant

(the same).

Contours

Contours – which mountain is this?

a) b)

e)d)c)

Contours

Match each contour map with the correct relief model

Contours

Draw a relief model that would represent this contour map.

Cross-sections

We can use contour lines to draw a cross-section with accuracy.

A cross-section is a side view or profile of the land.

It’s like getting a big knife and slicing part of the landscape away and looking at the side view.

Cross-sections

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7gT8gU_pD8&feature=youtu.be

Cross-sections