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