This laboratory will examine the basic features of maps, including methods for describing locations and land areas, understanding map scales and symbols, and interpreting contour lines to show the third dimension (vertical) of a land surface. Specific concepts that will be introduced or reinforced include the quadrangle map, contour lines, latitude and longitude, scale, magnetic declination and azimuth.
Virtual Lab Instructions
Download free Autodesk Sketchbook (Desktop or Mobile):
https://www.autodesk.com/products/sketchbook/free-download
Familiarize yourself with basic functionality and self-explanatory icons. You will mostly use pencil (and eraser). Use >Help to get, well, help.
Download Files for local markup. Then >File >Add Image
Follow Lab assignment instructions ….
File >Save As… the image you complete (as TIFF or JPEG file).
Insert saved image to answer document you submit to Canvas.
Task I (26 points)
On the figure below:
● Three streams are represented as thin, dashed lines.
● Elevation points (black dots with elevations shown in meters) have been surveyed along stream courses and along stream divides.
● The 800-meter contour line (thick, blue line) has already been drawn.
Your objective:
● Draw all other contours (7 total), applying a 20-meter contour interval.
o Contour lines intersecting rivers should form a V shape. If the lines form a U shape, this indicates a glacier and will result in lost points.
o Contour lines should not intersect each other as this indicates that a single point has two different elevations which is impossible.
● Label each contour line with its elevation at selected, strategic spots from 820 m to 940 m.
Task II (24 points)
● Construct a topographic profile along line X-Y on the map below.
● First fill in missing elevation values for contours on the map using text boxes or the draw tool
o Notice that the contour interval is 100 meters on this map
● Then, use Insert > Shapes > Circle. Place dots along the X-Y line to mark where it intersects features of the map.
o Mark the location and elevation of X and Y;
o Mark the location and elevation of contour lines;
o Mark the location and elevation of rivers.
● Transfer the information from the dots to the profile grid by going to Insert > Shapes > Line.
o Draw a vertical line (hold shift to keep it vertical) from each point you marked, down to its corresponding coordinates on the profile below.
● Finally, use a Draw tool to connect the points and complete your profile,
o Remember to pay attention to whether the elevation increases or decreases between elevations of the same value.
(Note that the vertical scale on the profile goes up to 700 m. What this represents in terms of a fractional scale depends on the way the figures are printed, but something like the vertical scale being twice the horizontal scale is not unreasonable. The relief is exaggerated, a common circumstance designed to enhance the visual character of a topographic profile.)
Task III (50 points)
Use the map provided (File: Task III Map) to answer the following questions. Show your work for all calculations.
- What is the name of this quadrangle?
- What year was this map published?
- What is the name of the quadrangle to the east of the area shown in this map?
to the southwest?
to the north?
- What is the latitude of the southern boundary?
- What is the latitude of the northern boundary?
- What is the longitude of the eastern boundary?
- What is the longitude of the western boundary?
- What is the size of the quadrangle in angular units (that is, how many degrees and minutes of area does it cover)?
- Locate the Harmony Borax Works. Define its location in terms of latitude and longitude, to the nearest minute.
- What is the fractional scale of this map?
- Use the graphic scale to determine the distance in miles and kilometers between the Harmony Borax Works and Texas Springs (located SE of the Harmony Borax Works).
- What is the approximate scale of this map?
- If you enlarged part of the map to a scale of 1 inch to 1000 feet, by what factor would it have to be enlarged? Explain your answer.
- What would the enlargement factor be if part of the map was enlarged to a scale of 1 cm to 100 m? Explain your answer.
- What magnetic declination (in degrees) is indicated on the map, and for what year?
- What is the contour interval for this map?
- Locate the Funeral Mountains (NE corner of the map). What is the highest elevation within this area?
Look in the valley, what is the lowest elevation? Where in the map can it be found?
What is the relief in the between the Funeral Mountains (at the highest point) and this spot (that is, the difference between the highest and lowest elevation)?
What is the maximum height of the head of the dry stream at the Artist’s Palette?
- Find the southernmost mine (shaped like a ‘Y’) near Corkscrew Canyon and give its elevation.
- In what direction does the water flow in Death Valley Canyon? How do you know?
- Please describe, in detail, what makes a good french fry. (6/100 pts here- make it good.)
Sample Solution
