Chapter 7 How to study contour maps?

How to find out the steepness of

different slopes from contour maps?
‘Section A Core module 2
Living with Natural Hazards’
and‘Section B Core module
2 The Trouble of Water’
require students to master 1 Arrangement of contour lines
the skills of calculating slope
gradient.
The steepness of a slope can be indicated by the arrangement of
the contour lines. The further away the contour lines are arranged, the
gentler the slope is, and vice versa.

200m

160m

140m
180m

120m

20m
40m
80m

60m
100
100m
160m

120m
140m

A1 A2 B1 B2

0 100 0 100

m m

Figure 1a Figure 2a

m m
250 250

200 200

150 150

100 100

50 50

0 0
A1 A2 B1 B2

Figure 1b A gentle slope Figure 2b A steep slope

gentle slope 緩坡  steep slope 陡坡

81
 2 Calculation of gradient
Besides, we can calculate the gradient to know the steepness of
a slope. Gradient is the ratio of a slope’s vertical distance to its
horizontal distance. Gradient can be shown in the following forms: 1:5
or 1 in 5.

1:2

1:3
1 in 2

1:5
1 in 3

1 in 5
Figure 3 Diagram of slope gradient

The formula of gradient is as follows:

Vertical distance
Gradient =
Horizontal distance

We can follow the steps in Table 1 to calculate the gradient of slopes

in Figure 1a and Figure 2a on Page 81 (refer to Table 2).

Table 1 Calculation of slope gradient

Steps

1. Vertical distance of the slope

= Height of the highest point of the slope – Height of the lowest point of the slope

2. Horizontal distance of the slope

= Length from the highest point to the lowest point of the slope on the map × Map scale

3. Gradient of the slope

= Vertical distance
Horizontal distance

gradient 坡度  vertical distance 垂直距離  horizontal distance 水平距離

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 Chapter 7 How to study contour maps?

Table 2 Calculation of the gradient of slopes in Figure 1a and Figure 2a

Gradient of the slope in Figure 1a Gradient of the slope in Figure 2a

1. Vertical distance of the slope 1. Vertical distance of the slope

= 160m – 100m = 200m – 20m
= 60m = 180m

2. Horizontal distance of the slope 2. Horizontal distance of the slope

= 6 × 100m = 6 × 100m
= 600m = 600m

3. Gradient of the slope 3. Gradient of the slope

= 60m = 180m
600m 600m
=1 =1
10 3.3
= 1:10 = 1:3.3

Refer to Table 1, the gradient of the slope in Figure 1a is 1:10, while

the gradient of the slope in Figure 2a is 1:3.3. The gradient of the slope
in Figure 2a is greater than that of the slope in Figure 1a. Therefore, the
steeper the slope is, the greater the gradient is.

When calculating the average gradient of a geographical feature (e.g., river or footpath)
represented by a curved line on a map, the actual length of the curved line should be
used as the horizontal distance.

7.1
Gradient calculation 1
1 Calculate the gradient of the slopes below.
Slope Gradient

5m
40m
5m
1
40m =
8
= 1:8

83
 15m
40m
15m 1
=
2.7
40m = 1:2.7

15m
30m
15m
1
=
2
30m = 1:2

2 The greater the slope gradient is, the ( steeper / gentler ) the slope is. The smaller the slope gradient is, the
( steeper / gentler ) the slope is.

7.2
Gradient calculation 2
Figure A shows a contour map of a place. Study Figure A carefully and answer the following questions.

Figure A
T N
232 X
332
R
300

250

200

150
Y
100

50
U
S
1: 5,000

River Footpath Trigonometric station (m) 100 Contour line (m)

84
 Chapter 7 How to study contour maps?

1 Calculate the average gradient of River RS. Show your steps.

Vertical distance of River RS = 332m－0m

= 332m
Horizontal distance of River RS = 7.8×50m
= 390m
332m
Average gradient of River RS =
390m
1
=
1.2
= 1:1.2

2 Calculate the average gradient of Footpath TU. Show your steps.

Vertical distance of Footpath TU = 200m－0m

= 200m
Horizontal distance of Footpath TU = 9.3×50m
= 465m
200m
Average gradient of Footpath TU =
465m
1
=
2.3
= 1:2.3

3 Calculate the gradient of Slope XY. Show your steps.

Vertical distance of Slope XY = 232m－50m

= 182m
Horizontal distance of Slope XY = 3.9×50m
= 195m
182m
Gradient of Slope XY =
195m
1
=
1.1
= 1:1.1

4 Sort River RS, Footpath TU and Slope XY according to their steepness.

Footpath TU < River RS < Slope XY

(The gentlest) (The steepest)

85
 How to identify different landforms
from contour maps?
1 Concave slope
A concave slope is a slope

60m
80m
that curves inwards. The

100
120 m
140 m
16
18

m
20

m
0m
0m gradient of the upper section of
22
0m

C1 C2 the slope is greater than that of

the lower section. On a contour
map, the contour lines in the
1: 10,000

Figure 4a
upper section are closely-spaced
while those in the lower section
m
250 are comparatively further apart.

200

150 Concave slope

100

50

0
C1 C2

Figure 4b Figure 4c A concave slope

‘Section A Core module 2 Living with Natural Hazards’requires students to master the
skills of identifying landforms from contour maps.

concave slope 凹坡
86
 Chapter 7 How to study contour maps?

2 Convex slope
A convex slope is a slope that curves
outwards. The gradient of the upper

1 60 m

120m
140 m

100m
m

20 m
80 m

40m
60m
180 section of the slope is smaller than that
D1 D2 of the lower section. On a contour map,
the contour lines in the lower section are
1: 10,000
closely-spaced while those in the upper
Figure 5a section are comparatively further apart.
m
250

200

150 Convex
slope
100

50

0
D1 D2 Figure 5c A convex slope
Figure 5b

3 Knoll
A knoll is a small rounded hill
or mound. Mostly it is represented by
concentric contour lines on a map.
E1 E2
60m
55m
50m
45m
1: 10,000

Figure 6a
m
80

60

40

20

Figure 6c A knoll
0
E1 E2
Figure 6b

convex slope 凸坡  knoll 圓丘

87
 A hill is similar to a knoll, but is of a higher altitude. There are different kinds of hills, including round-
topped hill, conical hill and flat-topped hill, which are represented by different forms of concentric
contour lines on maps. The contour maps of different types of hills are shown below.

Round-topped hill Conical hill Flat-topped hill

Contour

30 50m
map

2 0m
25 m

0m
20 0m
150m
20
0m

15 0m
15 m

10 m
10

100m
0m

50
0

1: 10,000 1: 10,000 1:10,000

Photo

4 Valley and spur

220
米m
A valley refers to a low-lying area
20
0 between hills. There is always a river running
Valley

Valley

18 m
r

Spur
Spu

0m
through it. The contour lines over such a
16
F1 0m F2
14 region are in V-shape, with the tips pointing
0m
120
m
towards the highland.
100
m
1:10,000
A spur refers to the part that bulges
Figure 7a
outwards between valleys. The contour lines
m
250 are also in V-shape, but with the tips pointing
Spur Spur towards the lower ground.
200

Spur
Valleys
150

100
Valley Valley
50

0
F1 F2

Figure 7b

Figure 7c Valleys and spurs

round-topped hill 圓頂山  conical hill 錐形山  flat-topped hill 平頂山  valley 山谷  spur 山咀

88
 Chapter 7 How to study contour maps?

5 Saddle
300m A saddle is a broad and shallow
400
m 350m gap between two hills.
450 400m
m
50 450m
0m
550 500m
m 550m
G1 G2

350m
1: 10,000 300m

Figure 8a
m
600

400

200

Figure 8c A saddle
0
G1 G2
Figure 8b

6 Cliff
A cliff refers to a nearly
vertical or vertical slope. On
contour maps, the contour lines
H1 H2
m
over the former are closely spaced,
40
30m while those over the latter are
20m
10m
1: 10,000
overlapped.
Figure 9a
m
50

40

30

20

10

Sea Figure 9c A cliff

0
H1 H2
Figure 9b

saddle 鞍形山口  cliff 山崖
89
 7 Ridge
440m A ridge is a narrow and long
460m range of several hills.
480m
5 0 0 m 500m
520m 520m
540m 540m 520m
I1 551 528 I2

1: 10,000

Figure 10a

m
800 Figure 10c A ridge

600

400

200

0
I1 I2

Figure 10b

ridge 山脊
90
 Chapter 7 How to study contour maps?

7.3
Match the landforms
1 Match the photos of different landforms on the left with the contour maps on the right correctly.
350m
400m
450m
450m
500m 500m
550m
• • 550m

400m
1: 10,000 350m

• •
220m
200m
180m
160m
m
120m

0m

80m
140

60m
10

40m
1: 10,000

100m
200m
300m

• •

1: 10,000

40 400m
0m
450
m
500m 500m
550m 543 500m
• • 590
542 500m 500m 512
504
450m

400m
1: 10,000 350m

91
 2 Figure A shows a contour map of a place. Study Figure A carefully and identify Landform A to Landform H.
Choose the best answer from the box below and complete the following table.

Gentle slope  Steep slope  Convex slope

Concave slope  Saddle  Spur  Valley  Cliff

Figure A
2
N 40
60
800 H
100
120
A

10 0
0
12
14
0
16
0
240
220
200

0
26 80 18 180
2 00
3 0 200
34 20
36 0
3

38 0
0

400 0 E
42 0
44 400
B 420 F
440
340
360
C

200
D G

100 Contour line (m) 220

1: 20,000

Landform Landform Landform Landform

A Concave slope B Saddle C Spur D Valley

E Steep slope F Gentle slope G Convex slope H Cliff

92
 Chapter 7 How to study contour maps?

7.4
Study a contour map
Study Figure A carefully and answer the following questions.
Figure A
N 700

S1 S2 Q
P
0
90

800

700

X 600

0
50
R

70
400
0
300
0 200

100 Contour line (m)

1 What are the heights of P, Q and R?

P Q R
A 420m 600m 880m
B 880m 580m 440m
C 520m 800m 400m
D 500m 440m 860m B

93
 2 Identify Landform X on the map.
A Concave slope B Convex slope
C Cliff D Knoll B

3 a. Calculate the gradient of Slope S1 and Slope S2.

Vertical distance of Slope S1 = 900m－580m Vertical distance of Slope S2 = 700m－460m

= 320m = 240m
Horizontal distance of Slope S1 = 4×200m Horizontal distance of Slope S2 = 3.5×200m
= 800m = 700m
320m 240m
Gradient of Slope S1 = Gradient of Slope S2 =
800m 700m
1 1
= =
2.5 2.9
= 1:2.5 = 1:2.9

b. Is Slope S1 or Slope S2 steeper?

Slope S1

Slope S1
7.5
A visit to Pat Sin Leng
Figure A on Page 96 shows the topographic map of Pat Sin Leng. Study Figure A carefully and answer the
following questions.

1. a. Calculate the gradient of the following slopes. Show your steps.

(i) From Sheung Tsz Fung (Spot height 512.7) to A

Vertical distance from Sheung Tsz Fung (Spot height 512.7) to A

= 512.7m－400m
= 112.7m
Horizontal distance from Sheung Tsz Fung (Spot height 512.7) to A
= 6.1×50m
= 305m
Gradient of the slope from Sheung Tsz Fung (Spot height 512.7) to A
112.7m
=
305m
1
=
2.7
= 1:2.7

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 Chapter 7 How to study contour maps?

(ii) From Hsien Ku Fung (Spot height 510.8) to B

Vertical distance from Hsien Ku Fung (Spot height 510.8) to B

= 510.8m－400m
= 110.8m
Horizontal distance from Hsien Ku Fung (Spot height 510.8) to B
= 2.1×50m
= 105m
Gradient of the slope from Hsien Ku Fung (Spot height 510.8) to B
110.8m
=
105m
1
=
0.9
= 1:0.9

b. Is the slope in Question 1a(i) or the one in Question 1a(ii) steeper?

The slope in Question 1a(ii)

2 Calculate the average gradient of the footpath from the spot height 471.3 to C. Show your steps.

Vertical distance of the footpath from the spot height 471.3 to C

= 471.3m－370m
= 101.3m
Horizontal distance of the footpath from the spot height 471.3 to C
= 9.6×50m
= 480m
Average gradient of the footpath from the spot height 471.3 to C
101.3m
=
480m
1
=
4.7
= 1:4.7

3 Match the landforms marked on the map to the names correctly.

Landform X Landform Y Landform Z

Ridge Concave slope Spur

95
 Figure A

N
C

Z
B

1:5,000

96
 2
Study Figure A carefully and answer the following questions.

Figure A
0
25 N
E
A
Y
322
P1
X

300

250
D
B
517
0
30

500

150

100
0

200
35

50
F
200
0
40

250
450
0

350

P2
45

500

300
400

C
Q1 H

0
50
G
Q2
1: 20,000

Footpath 100 Contour line (m)

1 What is the vertical interval of Figure A?

50m

2 Which of the following methods are used to show the relief in Figure A?
(1) Colouring
(2) Contouring
(3) Spot height
A (1) and (2) only B (1) and (3) only
C (2) and (3) only D (1), (2) and (3) C

97
 3 Complete the table below to compare Slope A and Slope B.
Slope A Slope B

Closeness of contour lines Further / Closer Further / Closer

Vertical distance (m) 200 200

Horizontal distance (m) 600 140

Gradient 1: 3 1: 0.7

Steepness Steeper / Gentler Steeper / Gentler

4 Identify Landform C to Landform H and complete the table below.

Landform Landform

C Valley F Ridge

D Spur G Concave slope

E Convex slope H Cliff

5 Calculate the average gradient of the two footpaths, P1 to P2 and Q1 to Q2, as well as compare their
steepness.

Vertical distance of the footpath from P1 to P2 = 450m－150m

= 300m
Horizontal distance of the footpath from P1 to P2 = 6×200m
= 1,200m
300m
Average gradient of the footpath between P1 and P2 =
1,200m
1
=
4
= 1:4

Vertical distance of the footpath from Q1 to Q2 = 500m－200m

= 300m
Horizontal distance of the footpath from Q1 to Q2 = 7×200m
= 1,400m
300m
Average gradient of the footpath from Q1 to Q2 =
1,400m
1
=
4.7
= 1:4.7

Since the footpath from P1 to P2 has a greater gradient, it is steeper.

98
 Integrated Exercise 2

6 a. Draw a cross section of XY.

Title: A cross section of XY

m
350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0
X Y

b. Calculate the vertical exaggeration of the cross section above.

Map scale of Figure A: 1:20,000

Vertical scale of the cross section in Question 6a: 1:5,000
1:5,000
Vertical exaggeration of the cross section in Question 6a =
1:20,000
1 1
=
5,000 ÷ 20,000
1 20,000
= ×
5,000 1
= 4 times

99