9.3B| Interpreting Topographic Maps of Death Valley and Yosemite National Parks

Instructions

Listen to the lecture and complete all of the assigned reading. This should be ready for this assignment, which requires you to apply what you learned through the lecture and the readings. Be sure to read through the rules and hints below before beginning. You have no time limit and 3 attempts.  

In the OER, "Chapter 2: Imagery and Maps in the Geosciences" you will use a small portion of a topographic map of Death Valley (click on the small gray box with 3 dots and three dashes on the left - then click on Activity 2B: Topographic Map of Death Valley National Park) to answer the questions in this exercise. Note you may need to zoom in to make out the elevations. Zoom by clicking on "View" then Zoom.  

Time Needed 

10-20 minutes. 

Learning Objectives

• Read topographic maps to locate landmarks, interpret topographic and geologic features, calculate gradient, and identify erosional and depositional landforms
• Interpret slopes and landforms using contour lines
• Determine elevations, relief, and gradient
• Interpret and create topographic maps and profiles