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2006-10-26 04:15:45 · 7 answers · asked by ***lucyjo*** 1 in Social Science Other - Social Science

7 answers

=Topography
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Surface of the EarthTopography is a general term in geography, which refers to the lie of the land, or various other characteristics of Physical geography in a region; this is usually expressed in terms of the elevation, slope, and orientation of terrain features. The understanding of these features is an integral aspect of geography, encompassing the practice of cartography, surveying, and GIS. The topography of an area often has a great influence on its weather and sometimes on climate.

The word 'topography' comes from the Greek τόπος (topos, place) and -γραφία (-graphia, writing). It originally meant writing about a place, in the same way that 'biography' means writing about a life, and this would describe the physical location as well as the history of the place and consequently local people. Nowadays that is usually called 'local history'. In Britain, the word topography is still sometimes used in its original sense,[1] as well as in the more restricted senses of the surface features of a location, or just the physical relief.

Maps are the most common source of topographic information.

The term "relief", meaning "projection or standing out from the general surface", is often used to refer to the third dimension of a map whether in actuality (as in a "raised relief" map), or drawn, as with contours, hachures, shading or colours of the territory it describes. Most 18th and early 19th century national surveys did not record relief across the entire area of coverage, calculating only spot elevations at survey points. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) topographical survey maps included contour representation of relief, and so maps that show relief, especially with exact representation of elevation, came to be called topographic maps (or "topo" maps) in the United States, and the usage has spread internationally.


Example of a topographic map with contour linesThe understanding of topography is critical for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it is usually the topograhy of a place that originally determines its suitability for human settlement: settlement often leads to the creation of a family; and to the arrivel of another, separate family; and so on. Towns and cities are where they are more because of the lie of the land than for any other reason.

In terms of environmental quality, agriculture, and hydrology, understanding the topography of an area enables the understanding of watershed boundaries, drainage characteristics, water movement, and impacts on water quality. Complex arrays of topographic data are used as input parameters for hydrology transport models (such as the SWMM or DSSAM Models) to allow prediction of river water quality.

Understanding topography also impinges on soil conservation, especially in agriculture. Contour plowing is an established practice of enabling sustainable agriculture on sloping land, and is the practice of plowing along topographic lines.

Topography is critical militarily because it determines the ability of armed forces to take and hold areas, and to move troops and material into and through areas.

Topography is important in determining weather patterns. Two areas in proximity to each other geographically may differ radically in characteristics such as precipitation because of elevation differences or because of a "rain shadow" effect.

Tectonic processes and erosional processes are the determiners of topography. Tectonic processes such as orogenies cause land to be elevated, and erosional (and weathering) processes cause land to be worn away to lower elevations.


[edit] Alternative view
The essence of Topography (literally “describing a place”) is the detailed recording of all the features of a place which may be of significance to the intelligent visitor.

Topography is NOT the mere record of natural geographical features and land forms.

That is the province of geography and the geographer

Topography is also concerned more and principally with the marks and changes wrought and left by previous inhabitants and visitors.

Topographers must be as interested in the local traces of ancient activity such as dwellings, fortifications, work and worship as they are in the geography and geology and any fossils therein.

The first systematic topographer was the English antiquary, John Leland (1503-52). King Henry VIII gave him a warrant to search all the libraries of monasteries and colleges of the kingdom to rescue the records of ancient writers of England and other nations.

This inspired Leland to record other particulars of the places where the records were kept and which the records mentioned.

In 1546, he wrote that he had so travelled by the sea coasts and the middle parts for six years, that there was

“almost neither cape nor bay, haven, creek or pier, river or confluence of rivers, breaches, washes, lakes, meres, fenny waters, mountains, valleys, moors, heaths, forests, woods, cities, boroughs, castles, principal manor places, monasteries, and colleges, but I have seen them, and noted things very memorable”.

His intention was to make a great map of England and Wales, and to write the first detailed topographical description of them — but he died 1552.

However, his researches laid the foundations on which others were to build: Lambarde's "Perambulation of Kent" (1576), Richard Carew's "Survey of Cornwall" written in the 1590s and George Owen's "Description of Pembrokeshire" (1603), established in the world the science and art of Topography.

The most famous of these topographers then was Camden, who was praised by both Edmund Spenser and Ben Jonson.

The most popular sources of topography and the topographer's work are found in the classic guide books supplemented by maps.

If it is true that the United States Geological Survey which was established on March 3, 1879 (in relative terms a recent introduction) called its maps "topographical" because they showed the heights or elevations above sea level (with or without supplemental contour-lines or other representations of the relief of the terrain) then this presumably is why the word "topographical" is confused in the USA with the word "relief" in the context of geography.

As explained above, topography and matters topographical are more to do with the way a human culture exploits a place than with the forces that make the place what it is.

Geography creates a desert. It is a human culture that decides to give it the name of "desert". Topography examines the culture of that place that arrived at the decision to give that desert that name.

2006-10-30 08:15:56 · answer #1 · answered by sunshinysusan 7 · 4 0

even as someone is drained it really is instantly ahead to assert the incorrect component. skinny skinned anti-Obama fringe correct attempt to belittle Obama for wondering one component and saying yet another. in all likelihood because President Bush made such diverse mistakes even as he spoke. thus far in 3 years they have the only incident of him saying fifty seven states, even as he meant 50, and this week blending up Colorado and Wyoming on the map. If it really is all they have i'd say that Obama is doing far more effective perfect than they or Bush might want to less than the stress he has to undergo. So, why are you dropping some time asking this stupid question particularly of criticizing the Republicans for not passing the jobs bill that Moody's says would create a million.9 million jobs, upload 2 factors to the GDP and get rid of the prospect of a recession next year?

2016-12-05 06:15:32 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0 0

Itis not. physical features in geography connect with natural land features rather than man made features such as class. So physical features include plains ,plateaus, mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans&seas,forests,deserts, etc.

2006-10-31 21:12:06 · answer #3 · answered by Berhane Gebreyesus Habtu 4 · 0 0

Contours of the land. Mountains, Valleys and rivers.
Anything that makes up a geographical map of a place or a country to help identify where or what it is.

2006-10-27 11:37:34 · answer #4 · answered by dunfie 2 · 0 0

"Physical" features are those you can see and measure without reference to human activity. They are things like lakes, mountains, rivers, coastlines. In contrast to human, economic, or political features. Physical features usually do not change, ecept over geological timespans.

2006-10-27 23:57:39 · answer #5 · answered by MBK 7 · 0 0

Would you class what?

2006-10-26 04:25:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

So what is the actual Q

2006-10-26 04:20:28 · answer #7 · answered by Andy P 3 · 0 0

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