What is a contour interval?

What is a contour interval?

• A. The Vertical Difference Between Adjacent Contour Lines
• B. The Horizontal Distance Between Contour Lines
• C. The Depth of Water Bodies
• D. The Color of Contour Lines

Answer: (A)

The contour interval is the vertical difference in elevation between adjacent contour lines. Contour lines on a map connect points that have the same elevation, so the interval tells you how much elevation changes from one line to the next. For example, if the interval is 10 meters, moving from one contour line to the next represents a 10-meter rise or fall in elevation. This interval affects how steep a slope appears: lines that are close together indicate a steeper slope, while lines that are farther apart indicate a gentler slope. The horizontal distance between lines is about spacing, not the elevation step, and the color of the lines is just a display choice, not the measurement itself.

The contour interval is the vertical difference in elevation between adjacent contour lines. Contour lines on a map connect points that have the same elevation, so the interval tells you how much elevation changes from one line to the next. For example, if the interval is 10 meters, moving from one contour line to the next represents a 10-meter rise or fall in elevation. This interval affects how steep a slope appears: lines that are close together indicate a steeper slope, while lines that are farther apart indicate a gentler slope. The horizontal distance between lines is about spacing, not the elevation step, and the color of the lines is just a display choice, not the measurement itself.