ROAD SCHOLARS 2014 EVENT OVERVIEW

MARK A. VANHECKENATIONAL SCIENCE OLYMPIADEARTH-SPACE SCIENCE EVENT CHAIRNSO ROAD SCHOLARS EVENT SUPERVISOR 1999/2000

PRESENTED BY:

mvanhecke@comcast.net

PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES:

Provide participants with an overview of the 2014 Road Scholars Event

Identify the basic features of topographic maps

Describe how contour lines are created and used in USGS topographic maps

Use contour lines to create basic and advanced map profiles

WHAT IS ATOPOGRAPHIC MAP?

2014 ROAD SCHOLARS

ACTIVITY 1:Basic Map Features

In this activity, you will create a map of a cookie

ACTIVITY 1:Creating a Topographic Profile of a Cookie

In so doing, you will do the following:

Identify the basic features of a map

Create and use a coordinate system to locate objects on the map

Determine the map scale

Create a simple topographic profile

BASIC MAP FEATURES

Place your cookie in the center of the grid shown on the ‘Creating a Cookie Profile’ Worksheet.

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

BASIC MAP FEATURESTrace the outline of your cookie on the profile sheet. When you finish tracing the outline, remove your cookie and place it on a napkin directly above the Worksheet.

BASIC MAP FEATURESDetermine the cardinal directions for your map (North/East/South/West) and fill in the Compass Rose (four arrows) at the bottom right of the Worksheet.

N

E

S

W

BASIC MAP FEATURESYour compass rose should look something like this.

N

E

S

W

BASIC MAP FEATURESIdentify the height and width of your cookie in squares. How many squares tall is your cookie from North to South? How many squares of the grid does it cover at its widest point from West to East?

N

E

S

W

H= 12.75 Squares

W= 12.75 Squares

BASIC MAP FEATURESIdentify places on the cookie where the surface material is different (chocolate chips). Use the squares on the map to help you place objects into your map-find the approximate square on the grid and draw in the chocolate chip. Shade or color in the chips.

BASIC MAP FEATURESCreate a legend for your map indicating what the chocolate chips represent (lakes, ponds, ore deposits, etc.)

BASIC MAP FEATURESDetermine the map scale (number of miles/kilometers, etc. one square is equal to)

20

BASIC MAP FEATURESTitle your map using a name that indicates the location and type of features shown in the map.

Island

20

TITLE

ORIENTATION

AREA

DETAIL

20

ISLAND

ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF A MAP

TITLE

ORIENTATION

AREA

DETAIL

CONTOUR LINES2014 ROAD SCHOLARS

CONTOUR LINES

Control points are positions on Earth’s surface and represented on a map from which measurements are made.

CONTOUR LINESBenchmarks (BM) are locations where horizontal position and elevation have been accurately surveyed.

CONTOUR LINESHorizontal control benchmarks on USGS topographic maps are locations where the geographic coordinates are certain.

Hotchkiss, COSector 7

CONTOUR LINESVertical control benchmarks on USGS topographic maps indicate the elevation of that control point with respect to sea level.

Hotchkiss, COSector 5

CONTOUR LINES

Spot elevations- the height of identifiable features such as mountain summits, road intersections and surfaces of lakes may also be shown on maps.

Hotchkiss, COSector 3

CONTOUR LINESOn topographic maps, a contour line is a line representing constant elevation

Hotchkiss, COSector 5

CONTOUR LINES

Contour lines never intersect

Hotchkiss, COSector 6

CONTOUR LINES

Thick contour lines are called Index contours.

Index contours are labeled with a number revealing the elevation of points along the line.

Hotchkiss, COSector 6

CONTOUR LINESThinner, unmarked contour lines are interval lines.

Interval lines are used to calculate changes in elevation using the map’s contour interval

Hotchkiss, COSector 6

CONTOUR LINES

Contour lines are separated by a constant specified distance- the contour interval

CONTOUR LINES

Points lying between contour lines are interpolated to determine elevation

Hotchkiss, COSector 6

CONTOUR LINESEvenly spaced contours form a uniform slope

Hotchkiss, COSector 4

CONTOUR LINES

Widely spaced contours indicate a gentle slope

Hotchkiss, COSector 5

CONTOUR LINESContour lines that are close together indicate a steep slope, a wall or cliff.

Hotchkiss, COSector 2

CONTOUR LINESJagged, rough contour lines indicate large outcrops of rock, cliffs and areas of fracture

Hotchkiss, COSector 1

CONTOUR LINES

V-shaped contours indicate stream beds and narrow valleys.

The point of the ‘V’ points uphill or downstream

Hotchkiss, COSector 1

CONTOUR LINES

U-shaped contours indicate ridges

The bottom of the ‘V’ points down the ridge

Hotchkiss, COSector 2

CONTOUR LINES

A ‘saddle’ is a ridge between two hills or summits

Hotchkiss, COSector 1

CONTOUR LINES‘M’ or ‘W’ shaped contours indicate a location upstream from stream junctions.

Hotchkiss, COSector 2

ACTIVITY 2:Creating a Topographic Profile of a Cookie

In this activity, you will create a topographic profile of a cookie

CREATING A TOPOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF A COOKIE

Return to your Cookie Map

CREATING A TOPOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF A COOKIE

Examine your cookie and identify ‘changes’ in elevation on its surface.

Take some time to really look at it and get the lay of the land

CREATING A TOPOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF A COOKIE

Place tiny dots on the cookie map that indicate a constant elevation and draw lines to connect these points of constant elevation.

Island

20

DRAWINGA TOPOGRAPHIC MAP PROFILE

2014 ROAD SCHOLARS

COOKIE PROFILE GRAPH

TOPOGRAPHIC MAP PROFILESUse the USGS Gosford, California Quadrangle to locate Fraser Road in the upper third of Sector 5

TOPOGRAPHIC MAP PROFILESTake a strip of paper as shown below and mark off where it intersects each contour line.

TOPOGRAPHIC MAP PROFILESTake a strip of paper as shown below and mark off where it intersects each contour line.

375 375 370 370 375 376

TOPOGRAPHIC MAP PROFILES

Create a graph as shown below ranging approximately from the lowest elevation to the highest elevation

TOPOGRAPHIC MAP PROFILES

Place the strip below the graph and mark off the first elevation 373’ at zero.

375 375 370 370 375 376

X X X

X X

XX

TOPOGRAPHIC MAP PROFILES

Connect the points to create the profile

TOPOGRAPHIC MAP PROFILES

On the Hotchkiss, Colorado Quadrangle, complete a profile for the location shown in the upper right of Sector 4

A B

TOPOGRAPHIC MAP PROFILES

Connect the points to create the profile

RESOURCES2014 ROAD SCHOLARS

RESOURCES

Topographic Maps included on the CD include:

Hotchkiss, ColoradoGosford, California

You can find and download other USGS Topographic Maps athttp://store.usgs.gov/b2c_usgs/usgs/maplocator/(xcm=r3standardpitrex_prd&layout=6_1_61_50_2&uiarea=2&ctype=areaDetails&carea=0000000009)/.do