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Difficulty: HardContour Lines and Relief Representation

Match each topographical contour line pattern with the correct relief feature or slope characteristic it depicts on a map.

  • Contours widely spaced at higher elevations and closely spaced at lower elevations near the baseConvex slope
  • Contours closely spaced at higher elevations and widely spaced at lower elevations near the baseConcave slope
  • V-shaped contours with their apexes (pointed ends) pointing toward lower elevation valuesSpur
  • Asymmetrical contour arrangement with very tight spacing on one face and wide spacing on the opposite faceEscarpment (Scarp and dip slope)

Answer

The correct pairings are: Widely spaced at top / closely spaced at base matches Convex slope; Closely spaced at top / widely spaced at base matches Concave slope; V-shaped contours pointing downhill match Spur; Asymmetrical contour spacing on opposite sides matches Escarpment.
Each contour pattern corresponds to a fundamental geometric principle of map work: contour density reflects gradient steepness (wide = gentle, close = steep), and V-shaped orientation indicates direction of slope projection.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze contour spacing relative to slope profiles.
Wide spacing indicates a gentle gradient, whereas close spacing indicates a steep gradient.
Topographical slope profiles (convex vs. concave) are determined by how gradient changes from high elevation to low elevation.
2
Differentiate between convex and concave slopes.
Convex slope = gentle top (wide spacing) to steep base (close spacing). Concave slope = steep top (close spacing) to gentle base (wide spacing).
Curvature of terrain determines where gradient transitions occur along elevation contours.
3
Analyze V-shaped contour orientation for relief features.
V-shapes pointing toward lower elevation represent spurs projecting downhill; V-shapes pointing toward higher elevation represent river valleys.
Contour lines bend around highland projections (spurs) differently than valley depressions.
4
Evaluate asymmetrical ridge patterns.
A steep slope on one side paired with a gentle slope on the other represents an escarpment (scarp and dip slopes).
Escarpments arise from tilted rock strata, resulting in contrasting contour densities across the ridge crest.

Key Concept

Interpretation of Relief and Slope Profiles from Topographical Contour Configurations
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Topics

Contour Lines and Relief Representation

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