The word topography is derived from two Greek

Words topos & graphia.

Topos = place Graphia = writing

The configuration of a surface including its relief

and position of its natural and man-made

features is called topography.

Objective

To determine the position of any feature such

as latitude, longitude and altitude.

To identifying features and recognizing typical

landforms patterns.

A topographic study may be made for military

planning and geological exploration.

Techniques of topography

Techniques of topography depend on;

The scale and size of the area under study.

Accessibility of the area.

The quality of existing surveys.

Direct survey

Remote sensing

Forms of topographic data

Raw survey data

Remote sensing data

Topographic mapping

Digital elevation modeling

Topological modeling

Types of Topography

Mountains

Land form rising at least 2,000 ft

above sea level; has steep sides.

Hill

Landform ranging from 500 ft to

2,000 ft; known for its rounded

top and gentle slopes.

Valley

A lowland between

mountains or hills.

Plains

A flat generally level

expanse of land.

Oasis

A fertile place found in a barren

land formed by underground

springs.

Plateau

A highland plain or elevated area

of mostly level land, often with

deep canyons.

Mesa

A small high plateau

with steep sides.

Butte

A landform that resembles

a mesa, but is smaller.

Stream

A water body generally

60 ft wide.

Tributary

A stream which feeds and

enlarges a larger body of water.

RiverA water body formed by

tributaries coming together

which empties into a bigger body

of water.

Delta

Triangular shaped deposits found

at the mouth of a river.

Estuary

The wide mouth of a river where

the ocean tide meets the river

current.

Lake

A body of water surrounded

by hills.

Reservoir

An artificial lake created

by a dammed river.

Waterfall

A descent of water that plunges

from a cliff or shelf of rock.

Isthmus

A narrow strip of land which

connects two larger bodies of

land.

Peninsula

A piece of land extend from a

larger landmass and nearly

surrounded by water.

Island

An area of land completely

surrounded by water.

Effect of slope on soil genesis

Slope controls the following soil properties

within a specific geographic region:

Depth of the solum

Thickness & organic matter content of the

horizon

Relative wetness of the profile

Colour of the profile

Degree of horizon differentiation

Soluble salt content

Kind and degree of pan development

Temperature

Character of the initial material

Topographic factors

Configuration of land surface

Altitude

Slope

Aspect and exposure