What is Meant by Topography?
The detailed study of different types of landforms and their attributes is known as topography. The term is also present in biology and it falls under the chapter of microscopy. However, the topography biology definition has similarities with the geographic one as it means the study of the physical properties of an object.
Here, we will discuss geographical topography. The ways of handling the topographic maps are discussed here. Moreover, you can define topography easily as you know the process of using it to solve different problems related to it. As a school student of any education board, you would have to study topography along with geography in the secondary and higher-secondary standards.
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What is Topography Meaning in Geography?
Topography in geography deals with the study of the surface of the earth or other celestial bodies. The main tool necessary for the study of topography is a toposheet. Toposheets are mainly available in parts divided concerning the area.
Every minute detail of the land is present on the toposheet. While observing a topographic map you can observe the natural features along with the roads, drainage, buildings, and water bodies. It also shows the altitude of the place. However, these are the topography examples that are denoted in multiple toposheets.
To theoretically denote a particular location you need to write the coordinates of the place. All toposheets contain the coordinates. You can find the gridlines forming the squares. These are topographic latitudes and longitudes.
Procedures of Topographic Survey
There are two ways by which you can carry out topographic surveys on a toposheet. They are direct and indirect surveys. These are the techniques to gather information about a particular place. All the information is later used to create an area-wise toposheet for documentation. The details of the survey techniques are as follows:
Indirect Survey
Indirect survey in topography means gaining data with the help of satellite images, images taken from the flight, or radar images. Scientists studying topography prefer indirect surveys for their cost-effectiveness. Nowadays, indirect surveys take place with the help of remote sensing and it saves a lot of time and physical effort for the scientists. Usage of sonar to take note of the ocean floor conditions also falls under the indirect survey.
Direct Survey
The direct survey in topography is trickier than the indirect survey and it is time-consuming. The instruments needed for the direct survey are theodolites, clinometers, and levels. It is done to survey landscapes. Concerning the studies, both direct and indirect topographic surveys are covered at the college levels. However, a few advanced educational boards make the students study the basics at the higher-secondary levels.
Importance of Topography
Topography is important for many reasons and you should try to understand it while studying it. At school levels, basic topography can help you to score outstanding marks. The study of topography is important as it helps people of different fields to understand the condition of the land and take actions in a written way.
Topography and Agriculture
Right topography can help agricultural experts to take the right track in conserving the soil. A continuous study of an area of land topographically can help scientists to understand the condition of the soil. Moreover, they can understand if soil conservation is needed or not.
If the scientists can gather authentic information about a piece of land with the help of topography, the right conservation techniques can be applied to ensure proper conservation of soil. Conditions like soil erosion can be minimized to a large extent.
Topography and Weather
The weather office relies on the topographic outcomes mostly when it comes to giving the forecast. Topography helps the weather officials to understand the altitude and land condition and say about the wound gusts, storms, etc.
Topography and Engineering
Civil engineers mostly need toposheets to examine the land surface of a specific construction site.
At times they also note down the 4 or 56 figure coordinates of a site.
Topography in Army Use
The army of the country uses the topographic map to study a place. It helps them to locate all minute details of a place within an area.
Solved Examples
Q1. What is the Information Present on the Margins of the Toposheet also called?
Answer: The other name for the marginal information of a topographic map is known as the primary information. It is called so as an individual can get access to all necessary information about the map at the margin.
Q2. What should be the Direction at Your Left if you are Facing the rising Sun?
Answer: If you are facing the rising sun, you are facing east and the direction at your next should be north. You can always find north demarcation on a map or a toposheet.
FAQs on What is Topography?
1. What exactly is topography in the context of geography?
In geography, topography refers to the detailed study and description of the surface features of an area. This includes both natural landforms like mountains, valleys, and rivers, as well as man-made features such as roads, buildings, and canals. It essentially maps the three-dimensional shape of the land's surface.
2. How is topography important in real-world applications like agriculture and civil engineering?
The study of topography has several critical real-world applications. Its importance can be seen across various fields:
- Agriculture: Experts use topographic data to understand land slope and shape, which helps in planning irrigation and implementing soil conservation techniques to prevent erosion.
- Civil Engineering: Engineers rely on topographic maps (toposheets) to examine the land surface of a construction site, ensuring the ground is suitable for building structures, roads, or bridges.
- Weather Forecasting: Meteorologists use topographic information, especially altitude, to predict wind patterns, storms, and other weather phenomena influenced by the landscape.
- Military Operations: The army uses detailed topographic maps for strategic planning, navigation, and understanding the terrain of an operational area.
3. What are the main methods used for a topographic survey?
There are two primary methods for conducting a topographic survey to gather data for maps:
1. Direct Survey: This is an on-the-ground method where surveyors use instruments like theodolites and levels to take precise measurements of the landscape. It is time-consuming but highly accurate for specific sites.
2. Indirect Survey: This method uses remote sensing technology. Data is gathered from a distance using satellite imagery, aerial photography, radar, or sonar (for mapping ocean floors). It is more cost-effective and faster for covering large areas.
4. What is the difference between a direct and an indirect topographic survey, and why might a scientist choose one over the other?
The main difference lies in the data collection technique. A direct survey involves physically being on-site and using ground-based instruments for high-precision measurements. An indirect survey uses remote technology like satellites or aircraft to gather data from afar. A scientist might choose an indirect survey for its cost-effectiveness and ability to quickly map vast or inaccessible regions. Conversely, a direct survey would be chosen when a project, like the foundation for a large dam, requires extremely precise, high-resolution data for a specific, smaller area.
5. Is the term 'topography' used only in geography?
No, while topography is a core concept in geography, the term is also used in other fields. For example, in biology and microscopy, topography can refer to the detailed mapping of the physical surface properties of a cell or microscopic object. In all contexts, the core idea remains the same: a detailed description of the features of a surface.
6. How do contour lines on a topographic map represent the Earth's three-dimensional surface?
Contour lines are a key feature of topographic maps that represent the 3D landscape on a 2D surface. Each line connects points of equal elevation above sea level. The way these lines are spaced reveals the shape of the land:
- Closely spaced lines indicate very steep terrain, like a cliff or mountainside.
- Widely spaced lines indicate a gentle slope or relatively flat ground.
By reading these contours, one can visualise the hills, valleys, and slopes of an area without physically being there.
7. Beyond just landforms, what other man-made and natural features are shown on a detailed topographic map?
A detailed topographic map, or toposheet, is comprehensive and shows much more than just the shape of the land. It includes a wide range of features such as transportation networks (roads, railways), buildings, drainage patterns (rivers, streams), water bodies (lakes, ponds), vegetation (forests, orchards), and other important landmarks needed for detailed planning and analysis.
