MapsAssignment.docx (1)
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University of Arkansas, Fayetteville *
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Geography
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Dec 6, 2023
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LAB 2: MAP READING
100 points
Due at the beginning of lab next week.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this lab, you will be able to
1. Understand the 6 basic components of a map
2. Identify steep and flat topography using contour lines
3. Understand land descriptions using Public Land Survey Systems (PLSS)
4. Create a topographic profile using Google Earth
INTRODUCTION
Maps present an interpreted synoptic overview of a place or region or world. There are
political, physical, topographic, climatological, meteorological, demographic, and vegetation
maps, to name just a few. Maps are a fundamental tool of communication and research in
Geography, but all maps are not created equal. Maps integrate enormous quantities of
information into one convenient image, from a bird's eye perspective. You might say that a
simple aerial photograph might substitute for a map, but maps are vastly superior because they
are scaled to true distance, rectified to a systematic grid coordinate system that provides a
unique, non-repetitive address every spot on the map, and maps interpret what is shown
whether that be topography, vegetation cover, property boundaries, or zoning restrictions.
Maps are really like aerial photographs that have been interpreted quantitatively. If you know
how to read maps, then a library of information about the Earth becomes immediately
accessible to you.
All good maps include 6 basic map components:
1. Title
2. Orientation - N, E, S, and W
3. Legend - code for the symbols used on the map.
4. Scale - How big is chunk of Earth portrayed on map? The small vs. large scale
discrimination has to do with the ratio of linear distance on the map to linear distance
on earth. For example, a map scale of 1:2,500,000 [which means that one inch (cm) on
the map represents 2,500,000 inches (cm) on the earth] is a much smaller ratio than say
1:24,000, so the former would be referred to as a small-scale map.
5. Date of printing
6. Grid Coordinate System
Most maps of the United States we use the Township and Range System. The Township and
Range System, also known as the Public Land Survey System (or PLSS), provides a way to
uniquely identify and to subdivide parcels of land. It is an easy system that addresses
"TOWNSHIPS" according to their location north or south of the "BASELINE" and east or west of
the "PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN." A township is square and 6 miles on each side, for a total of 36
square miles. Townships are subdivided in 36 SECTIONS, which are each 1 mile on a side (1
square mile or 640 acres). Sections are typically subdivided into quarters, and these quarters
can themselves be further quartered. Note on the figure below, the township marked "z" and
how it can be further subdivided. The legal description for the small parcel of land cut out this
township would precisely be the NE ¼ of the NW ¼ of Section 10, T2N R2E in the State of
Arkansas.
Figure 1. Overview of the arrangement of the PLSS. The T2S R2W block uses the red outlines, with section
13 enlarged with blue outlines and includes distance and area measurements within it.
Image Source:
https://www.websterassessor.org/assessment-tools/land-measurements-and-glossary
Shaded relief drawings, digital elevation models, and contour lines mapping represent the
complex three-dimensional terrain of earth on two-dimensional (flat) maps. Contour line
mapping of topography is the most practical and widely used. A CONTOUR LINE is an "ISOLINE"
of equal elevation above sea level. Contour lines connect areas of equal elevation above sea
level, to portray the lay of the land and to provide accurate elevation data for any spot on the
map. Sea level is a real world isoline of "equal" elevation, and it is the principal datum (or base
level) from which topography and bathymetry are measured (i.e., elevation above and below
"mean sea level," respectively). When contour lines are close together, they indicate large
elevation change in a short horizontal distance (i.e., steep terrain), and when they're spaced
widely apart it means the opposite (flat terrain).
Rules of contour line mapping:
1. Contour lines run through (or connect) areas of equal elevation.
2. Contour intervals (i.e., the vertical distance between lines) are fixed.
3. The universal datum for elevation is mean sea level.
4. Contour lines located close together indicate steep terrain.
5. Contour lines further apart indicate relatively flat terrain.
6. Contour lines may converge to indicate a sheer cliff, but never cross over one another.
7. Contour lines bend upstream to mark the incision of the landscape by the stream.
In this lab you will extract information from two maps: the Prairie Grove, AR, 7.5'
topographic map, and the Loveland, CO, topographic map. These exercises are intended to help
you understand map scale, distance, the unique land address system known as PLSS (or
township and range for most of the USA), and to visualize landscape topography using contour
line mapping.
LAB 2: EXERCISE MAPS
100 pts
Use the Prairie Grove, AR Quadrangle and the Loveland, CO, topographic maps to answer the
following questions [75 pts].
1. What is the scale of the Prairie Grove map? (Look on the bottom) [3 pts]
1:24,000
2. What year was the Prairie Grove last updated? [3 pts]
sep. 23 1993
3. What is the distance from the minnow farm at Big Spring to Hogeye? (You can use the
scale on the map to estimate or a software like Google Maps to help you here) [3 pts]
2 miles
4. What is the distance from the summit of Pinnacle to the Center Point Church? [3 pts]
1 1/2
5. What is contour interval of the Prairie Grove map? [3 pts]
20 feet
6. What is the elevation of the top of Stevenson Mountain? (Summit elevations are usually
marked on the map) [3 pts] 1815 feet
7. What direction does Blair Creek flow? (Remember, water will always seek the lowest
point) [3 pts]
upstream
8. What are the PLSS coordinates of the Water Tower in Prairie Grove? [3 pts]
t15n, r31w,sec18, se ¼, sw 1/4
9. What is located at T14N, R31W, Sec 16, NW ¼, SE ¼ ? [3 pts]
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big spring minnow farm
10. What is the scale of the Loveland, CO map? [3 pts]
1/62500
11. How far is it from Twin Mounds to Campion? [3 pts]
4 miles
12. What is the contour interval of the Loveland map? [3 pts]
20 feet
13. What direction does the Little Thompson River flow? (Hint: contour lines bend
upstream) [3 pts]
upstream
14. What is the elevation of Newell Lake? (Tip: look at the contour lines: hash marks on the
inside indicate a depression) [3 pts] depression
15. On the Loveland map, what is located at T5N, R69W, Sec 2, NW ¼ ? [3 pts]
alford lake
16. What year was the Loveland map made? [3 pts]
1908
17. Which of the two maps is more up to date? [3 pts]
Prairie grove
18.
Which map has the larger scale (i.e., more detail)? [3 pts] prairie grove
19. This question has 5 parts:
a) What is elevation of Lake Prairie Grove in feet? [4 pts]
1203
b) What is the elevation of Blair Creek at the intersections of, Sec 11 & 14, T14N,
R32W? [4 pts] 1326
c) What is the difference in elevation between these 2 points (19a and 19b)? [4 pts]
123
d) What is the distance between the southern end of Lake Prairie Grove and the
point of intersection used above in feet and miles? [4 pts]
1/3 mile
e) What is the gradient of this river in feet per feet and feet per mile (use the
distances and elevations in questions 19a – d) (Remember, gradient is rise/run:
be careful of units)? [5 pts]
3/ ¼ miles
20. Using the instructions titled “Directions for Making Google Earth Elevation Profile” attached
in Blackboard, create a topographic profile of the terrain between the summit of Denali (Mt.
McKinley) in Alaska, the highest point in the United States, and Death Valley, CA, the lowest
point in the United States. Attach a screenshot of your finished topographic profile in feet. Note:
You will need to download
Google Earth Pro
to create your elevation profile. Instructions and
download links for
Google Earth Pro
are on the next page. [25 pts]
https://www.google.com/earth/about/versions/#download-pro
Install Google Earth Pro
Install Earth Pro on Windows
1.
Download Google Earth Pro.
2.
Double-click the file and follow the installation process.
3.
To open Google Earth Pro, click
Start
Programs
Google Earth Pro
. Then, click
Google Earth Pro.
Install Earth Pro on a Mac
1.
Download Google Earth Pro.
2.
Open "GoogleEarthProMac-Intel.dmg".
3.
Open the "Install Google Earth Pro.pkg" file and follow the installation process.
4.
To
open Google Earth Pro, open your Applications folder and double-click Google Earth Pro.
Note:
During the installation process, Mac OS X will ask for an administrator password. This
information is never shared with Google.