Which contour lines resemble dashes and indicate small elevation changes?

Which contour lines resemble dashes and indicate small elevation changes?

• A. Supplementary Contour Lines
• B. Index Contour Lines
• C. Intermediate Contour Lines
• D. Contour Lines

Answer: (A)

These dashed contour lines are supplementary contour lines. They’re drawn as short, dashed lines to add detail where elevation changes are tiny and would be missed by the main contour interval. They help reveal subtle slopes by filling in the gaps between the heavier, more widely spaced contours, making gentle terrain easier to read. This distinguishes them from index contours, which are bold and labeled to mark significant elevation steps, and from intermediate contours, which are solid lines placed between index contours to refine the relief without using dashes. So the dashed, dashed-line type specifically corresponds to supplementary contour lines.

These dashed contour lines are supplementary contour lines. They’re drawn as short, dashed lines to add detail where elevation changes are tiny and would be missed by the main contour interval. They help reveal subtle slopes by filling in the gaps between the heavier, more widely spaced contours, making gentle terrain easier to read.

This distinguishes them from index contours, which are bold and labeled to mark significant elevation steps, and from intermediate contours, which are solid lines placed between index contours to refine the relief without using dashes. So the dashed, dashed-line type specifically corresponds to supplementary contour lines.