A steep slope is indicated on a map by which contour line pattern?

A steep slope is indicated on a map by which contour line pattern?

• A. Contour lines close together
• B. Contour lines widely spaced
• C. A single contour line
• D. No contour lines

Answer: (A)

Contour line spacing shows how quickly elevation changes over distance. For a steep slope, these lines are drawn very close together because elevation rises rapidly in a short horizontal span. When lines are packed tightly, you’re stepping just a short distance before you gain a lot of height, which is the hallmark of steep terrain. If the lines are widely spaced, the slope is gentle because elevation changes more gradually over distance. A single contour line doesn’t show a slope pattern by itself, since it marks only one elevation and offers no sense of gradients. No contour lines would not reliably indicate slope on a map and isn’t the pattern used to show steep terrain.

Contour line spacing shows how quickly elevation changes over distance. For a steep slope, these lines are drawn very close together because elevation rises rapidly in a short horizontal span. When lines are packed tightly, you’re stepping just a short distance before you gain a lot of height, which is the hallmark of steep terrain. If the lines are widely spaced, the slope is gentle because elevation changes more gradually over distance. A single contour line doesn’t show a slope pattern by itself, since it marks only one elevation and offers no sense of gradients. No contour lines would not reliably indicate slope on a map and isn’t the pattern used to show steep terrain.