Bathymetric Map

During class, we learned about bathymetric maps. A bathymetric map is a map that shows water depth. We looked at a specific bathymetric map of a lake. We learned that when the lines are closer together, the slope is steeper. As a class, we divided each depth section among ourselves and cut out our specific section. I had sections 7, 8, 9, and 10 because they were the easiest to cut out. We also cut out a square for our scale. In class, we weighed both our square and cut out sections of the lake. The class average mass for the square scale was 0.103g. From the recorded masses of each section and the class average mass for the square, the area (meters squared) was calculated. The hypsographic curve (area vs depth curve) is shown below for our data.

Then we calculated the volume (meters cubed) for the data. The volume was determined by taking the average of two depth areas next to each other and multiplying it by the change in depth of the two areas. The Volume vs Depth curve is shown below.