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Difficulty: MediumContour Lines and Relief Representation

Match each description of contour line configuration on the left with the corresponding relief feature it depicts on the right.

  • Concentric closed contours with elevation values decreasing inward toward the centerDepression
  • Concentric closed contours with elevation values increasing inward toward a single peakConical hill
  • Contours closely spaced near higher elevations but becoming widely spaced toward lower elevationsConcave slope
  • Extremely tight, nearly touching parallel contours running along a linear slope faceEscarpment

Answer

Depression matches inwardly decreasing closed contours; Conical hill matches inwardly increasing closed contours; Concave slope matches closely spaced upper contours transitioning to widely spaced lower contours; Escarpment matches extremely tight parallel contours along a linear slope face.
Each landform is uniquely characterized by its contour signature: closed loops decreasing inward represent depressions, closed loops increasing inward mark conical hills, contours spreading out downhill indicate concave slopes, and tightly clustered parallel contours represent escarpments.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine contour patterns for closed loop elevations.
Decreasing inward values indicate a depression, while increasing inward values represent a hill.
Contour values represent height above sea level; dropping values inside a loop signify a basin or pit.
2
Analyze contour spacing relative to elevation changes.
Close spacing near the top and wide spacing near the bottom forms a concave slope.
Closer contour lines represent steeper gradients, whereas wider spacing indicates flatter terrain.
3
Identify linear tight contour clustering.
Merged or nearly touching contours along a slope face depict an escarpment or cliff.
A steep vertical cliff compresses horizontal distance between successive vertical intervals.

Key Concept

Interpretation of relief landforms from contour line spacing and elevation trends
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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Topics

Contour Lines and Relief Representation

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