Relief
Relief is the difference
in height between the
highest and lowest
points along a line
joining two points.
80
79
78
77
30
40
20
10
A
The relief between A
and B is:
(50 – 10) = 40 metres
76
B
50
The difference in
height between
the two contour
lines is 10 metres
75
55
74
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
Calculating relief
Relief refers to the difference in height between
two places
Calculating relief
To determine the relief of a particular slope
you subtract the lowest point from the highest
point.
40
60
50
30
20
10
Calculating relief
Relief = Highest point – lowest point
60-10=50
40
60
50
30
20
10
Calculating relief
If you examine the
diagram on the right, you
will see that neither the
highest or lowest point is
at the end of the line (at
Point A or B). Rather the
highest and lowest points
are found along the line.
You need to use these to
calculate the relief.
30
A
20
30
10
Highest
point
20
10
Lowest point
B
10
20
30