

Line joining the highest point of a hill across the contours at right angles is called Ridge line. If the higher values are inside the loop in the contour it indicates a Ridge. For a hill reading increasing towards center, and for a pond reading decreasing towards center.
CONTOUR INTERVAL DEFINITION SERIES
A series of closed contour line on the map represent depression, if the higher values are outside.A series of closed contour line on the map represent a hill, if the higher values are inside.If contours are parallel and equally spaced then it represents a uniform slope.In this case, several contours coincide and the horizontal equivalent become zero. Contour lines never run into one another except in the case of a vertical cliff.Contour line do not merge or intersect each other except in the cases of an overhanging cliff or cave in the hillside.A contour line is a closed curve, however they may close either on the map itself or outside the map.All the points of a contour line have the same elevation.The contour interval depends upon several factors as.Smaller contour interval is more precise for the analysis.Generally contour intervals are taken 1 to 15m.It is desirable to have a constant contour interval, however in some special cases, a variable contour may also be provided.Elevation difference between two consecutive contours is called the contour interval.To calculate the amount of cutting, filling, and reservoir capacity.


And the process of tracing contour line on the surface of the earth is called Contouring. Or It may also be defined as the intersection of level surface with the ground of the earth. Unsteady Flow: Surge- Open Channel Flow (Chapter-6)Ī contour may be defined as an imaginary line passing through points of equal elevation on the earth surface.Rapidly Varied Flow: Hydraulic Jump- Open Channel Flow (Chapter-5).Gradually Varied Flow- Open Channel Flow (Chapter-4).Energy Depth Relationship- Open Channel Flow (Chapter-3).Uniform Flow- Open Channel Flow (Chapter-2).Open Channel Flow – Introduction (Chapter-1).In the latter case, the method of interpolation affects the reliability of individual isolines and their portrayal of slope, pits and peaks. Contour lines may be either traced on a visible three-dimensional model of the surface, as when a photogrammetrist viewing a stereo-model plots elevation contours, or interpolated from the estimated surface elevations, as when a computer program threads contours through a network of observation points of area centroids. The configuration of these contours allows map readers to infer the relative gradient of a parameter and estimate that parameter at specific places. A level set is a generalization of a contour line for functions of any number of variables.Ĭontour lines are curved, straight or a mixture of both lines on a map describing the intersection of a real or hypothetical surface with one or more horizontal planes. When the lines are close together the magnitude of the gradient is large: the variation is steep. The contour interval of a contour map is the difference in elevation between successive contour lines.The gradient of the function is always perpendicular to the contour lines. A contour map is a map illustrated with contour lines, for example a topographic map, which thus shows valleys and hills, and the steepness or gentleness of slopes.

More generally, a contour line for a function of two variables is a curve connecting points where the function has the same particular value.In cartography, a contour line (often just called a "contour") joins points of equal elevation (height) above a given level, such as mean sea level. It is a plane section of the three-dimensional graph of the function Wikipedia Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votesĪ contour line (also isoline, isopleth, or isarithm) of a function of two variables is a curve along which the function has a constant value, so that the curve joins points of equal value.
