Contour Maps for Dummies

This contour map isn't a topographic map

As we at the Antisocial Network have pointed out many times, having a degree in journalism does not make you an authority on anything except perhaps earning degrees in journalism. Oh, sure, there are some freelance journalists who've managed to immerse themselves in a wide range of topics to write fascinating non-fiction – the names Peter Heller and Mary Roach come to mind – but the "journalists" who freelance at many internet sites are more... fiction writers. Take Susan Berg, for instance: her MA in journalism wasn't worth much the day she pretended to answer the eHow.com-generated question "What Are Contour Maps?"¹

According to Susan, contour maps,

"...are detailed maps that show both natural and man-made features. Originally developed in the 1600s for military purposes, they are still used today for military purposes and by backpackers and hikers."

But wait: our staff geologist (yes, we have one) pointed out that this is only one kind of contour map, a topographic map. A quick trip to the biggest online dictionary suggests why Berg gave this answer: she had to look it up! Researching past the first entry in the google results (after wikipedia, which Demand Media forbids its contributors to use) might have demonstrated that there are other kinds.

Instead of heading straight to "topographic map," perhaps Berg should have read the wikipedia entry for "contour line." Had she done so, she might  have learned that a contour line simply connects points of equal value, and elevation -- topography -- is only one of gazillions of types of data contoured every day. Fields from geology to economics to statistics to meteorology to engineering contour their data. Any time you encounter the prefix "iso-" (isopach, isochore, isochron, isobar, isotherm, isopleth, isodop, isochrone, isotim, isodensity...) it's a safe bet that someone somewhere has contoured this variable. Regardless of Berg's reasonably accurate copy-reword-paste job on the definition of topographic maps, she got this one wrong: way wrong. Not only is the focus incorrect, even in what Susan did write she omitted critical facts when all she said was:

"The main feature that differentiates contour maps from other maps is the demarcation of elevation through the use of contour lines. Contour lines indicate the elevation of features such as mountains and and depths of items such as lakes."

She never once mentions the definition of a contour line, which is what makes contour maps work (including topographic maps): they don't "indicate the elevation," they connect points of equal value. Had Berg spent a few more minutes on research instead of dashing to the next fifteen bucks, she might have gotten it right. She didn't, and for her troubles we're more than happy to name her our Dumbass of the Day for today.

¹ The original has been deleted by Leaf Group, but can still be accessed using the Wayback machine at archive.org. Its original URL was ehow.com/about_5075155_contour-maps.html

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