Topographic Map Vocabulary

Occurs when weathered rock are eroded (moved) and then dropped into a a new place by wind, water, ice, and gravity.

The difference between the highest elevation point and the lowest elevation point on a map.

Natural physical features of the earth’s surface such as mountains, hills, rivers, plateaus, craters, or canyons.

The breaking down of rock by water, wind, ice or glaciers which occurs slowly over time.

Height above sea level.

Takes the 3-dimensional ups and downs of the terrain and shows them on a 2-dimensional surface.

The process by which water, ice, wind, and gravity remove and transport sediments from one place to another.

A map made of pictures of the Earth taken from an earth-orbiting satellite.

Line that connects places on a topographic map that are all at the same elevation.

The vertical difference in elevation between neighboring contour lines.

Study of the shapes and features of the Earth’s surface.

An area of lower elevation than the land that surrounds it on all sides.