Columbia Icefield Top Map 2006

CONTOUR LINES: THE LAY OF THE LAND Analyze the contours on the map and use the following rules to answer the questions below:  Contour lines are the brown lines drawn on topographic maps to connect points of equal elevation  are represented by dashed lines on glaciers  never cross  represent a steep landscape when drawn close together; a flat landscape when far apart  bend and point upstream (the direction from which water flows) when crossing a valley  form enclosed shapes which represent the character and form of the landscape  are separated by an equal increment of height ( the contour interval ) 1. Along what type of natural linear feature runs through the lower elevations on the map generally located? What colour (located on both sides of this feature) is associated with these areas? _______________ Check the legend on the back of the map (near bottom) to identify what this colour represents: _____ 1. What is the contour interval of the map? (check statement near the bottom of the map near scale) _______________ m 2. What is the difference in height between the thicker contours ___________________________ m 3. What is the lowest contour line value paralleling the Sunwapta River along the Icefields Parkway?__ 4. What is the value of the contour at the lowest end of the Saskatchewan Glacier? ________________ 5. What is the maximum elevation at which trees grow along the Castleguard River from 870 650 to 895 630 GRADIENT/SLOPE Using the nearest contours, identify the elevation of the Saskatchewan Glacier at 850 760: ___________________m and 900 790: ________________m . Now subtract to calculate the vertical rise between these two points: _______________ m. Using the scale, measure the horizontal distance (run) between these points in metres : ___________________ m. Divide the rise by the run and multiply by 100 to find the gradient or slope: ____________ % Perform similar calculations for each of the following glaciers, choosing as straight a line as possible from the lower end of each to a point near the icefield: Glacier Upper Elevation (m) Lower Elevation (m) Rise (m) Run (m) Slope (%) Athabasca Dome Columbia CROSS SECTIONS of GLACIAL FEATURES Draw a profile of each of the following glacial features. Use an appropriate vertical scale for each graph that is large enough to accent each one's characteristics but small enough to fit them all on a single sheet of graph paper. Label the military grid reference of each end of your profile on the graph as well as the type of feature shown. Use a scale of 1 graph square = 500 m for each cross section. 1. Snow Dome : Draw your cross section north to south through the highest portion of the dome from one 3200 m contour to the other (military grid reference 765 820 to 800 820). 2. Athabasca Glacier : Construct your profile down the centre of the glacier from 800 790 to 840 840 using each 40m contour. Label the icefalls at the 3 step-like changes of elevation near the upper end of the glacier (shown on map as 3 sets of narrowly spaced contours). 3. Cirque/Aretes : Draw a profile of the cirque & aretes near Mount Adromeda from 810 780 to 860 810. Label each feature. 4. Horn : North to south through the peak of Castleguard Mountain from 825 710 to 825 750. 5. U-shaped valley: Alexandra River Valley from Mount Willerval (974 631) to the Castlets (915 675) /8