ESS 536 Teaching Environmental Geologyp. 1

Contours on paperName______

Learning how to construct contour lines on paper

This exercise will reacquaint you with the rules for contour lines can be done entirely indoors. Following your instructors directions, complete the following numbered steps. It is strongly recommended that you use a pencil for this exercise!

  1. Study the rules for contour lines (fr. Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology, 3rd ed., R.M. Busch, ed., 1993):

  1. Which rules would be most helpful in constructing contour lines on a map? Test your ability to apply the rules by following the instructions in the caption (Busch, 1993):

  1. Compare your map and your method with a colleague’s. Are there differences between the maps? Between the way you each thought about constructing the lines? Resolve any significant differences before going on.

Contouring WCU

Around 1950 the University surveyed the land along Church St. between Sharpless St. and University Ave. (then called College Ave.). The surveyors determined spot elevations on a grid. From a map made at the time you can see that the only buildings on this land were Reynolds Hall (an old stone house), a small carpenters’ shop, and an even smaller spring house; McCarthy, Mitchell, and Swope Halls had not been built. You will find out what the landscape looked like at the time the map was made.

4. Draw contour lines at two-foot intervals (404 ft., 406 ft., etc., up to 420 ft) on the map of spot elevations on page 4. Label the elevations on the lines along the edges of the map. Compare your map with your partner’s as you work to help avoid errors.

  1. What difficulties are there in the vicinity of Reynolds Hall and the carpenter’s shop? How did you proceed?
  1. What happens to your contour lines at the edges of the map? Do the lines ever end?

5. One contour line on the map should form a closed loop. What topographic feature is indicated in that area?

6. In the northwestern part of the map the contour lines are all about the same distance apart and have the nearly same direction. Describe in your own words how earth’s surface is shaped in this area. What topographic feature is indicated?

7. In what part of the map do the contour lines indicate a valley? What aspects of the contour line pattern tell you this?

8. Draw a line with a colored pencil to show where a stream might have formed during heavy rain, with an arrow showing the direction of flow.