The document discusses different ways to show relief or land height on maps. It describes layer shading, where different colors represent height ranges; spot heights which specify exact heights of prominent features; and trig stations which provide very accurate heights. Contour lines join points of equal height, with closer lines indicating steeper slopes, and they can be used to represent the shape of the land or draw cross-sections showing the land profile.
2. 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
3. Layer Shading
This is where different colours are
used to represent different heights
above sea level.
eg) from sea level to 500m
from 500m to 1000m
from 1000m to 1500m
6. 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.
7. 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).
11. Contours
Draw a relief model that would
represent this contour map.
12. 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.
