Tips For Reading Elevation Data Effectively - There are many uses for understanding how to read elevation data, yet unless you are able to understand what you are reading, there is no way to gain anything from the information. The elevation of something refers to its geometric height, but with the earth it refers to its height in reference to sea level. The following are a few examples of when reading elevation data effectively is necessary.
Earth's elevation is simply the lands' height above sea level. Sea level, which is right where the water meets the shore, has the elevation of zero. On a topographic map or 2-D elevation contour map, the terrain is represented by bands of elevations that connect points of equal elevation as well as spot elevations denoted by heavier coloration on the map.
Contour maps show elevation by lines of different darkness. Only the darkest lines are labeled with their elevation, otherwise the maps would be too confusing to read. You can see the individual lines and figure out each of their elevation, as all of the contour lines are spaced vertically equally along the slope. If you were to walk along a contour line, you would neither gain nor lose elevation.
Lines that are close together denote a steep side rather than a gentle slope. A cliff is almost impossible to draw using a contour topographic elevation map because most of the lines would be directly on top of each other.
If you are able to see completely closed contour lines on a map, you are probably looking at a simple hill. You can also see major drainage on a topographic map, denoted by a difference in color shade and dips in the contour lines.
There are many different programs now available to help you read elevation data effectively. They offer graphed, 3-D, 2-D, grayscale, and colorful options to help you read and understand the information in the most coherent way possible.
