Image Interpretation Lab #3
This lab uses stereo pairs of aerial photographs from the Atlas of Stereoscopic Aerial
Photographs and Remote Sensing Imagery of North America by Hamblin.
For each photo pair please create an overlay of the right hand photo, noting on your
overlay the primary geographic features seen on the photograph.
For each photograph, identify a transect on your overlay. Make sure and identify a
transect that cuts across the major topographic features in the photo. Use the pocket
stereoscope to visualize a 3D view of your transect… sketch the relative changes in
elevation (X-section) across your transect.
Each photo pair has questions… please answer these on your title sheet.
Photo Pair 5.
Is this a mountain range or a canyon complex? Turn the photos upside down, does the
elevation appear to change? What difference does the orientation make?
What is the origin of the circular depressions on the plains?
Do the circular depressions on the plains appear to be affecting erosion along the
escarpement?
Photo pair 17
Compare these photos to pair number 5. Explain the similarities and differences…. Note
differences in vegetation, erosion patterns, and settlement patterns.
Photo pair 25.
How are the topographic patterns on these photos similar to photos pairs 5 and 17?
Settlement patterns? Vegetation?
Explain the large channel which extends across the area but is not occupied by a flowing
stream?
Photo pair 57
What causes the difference in vegetation patterns? How would you describe the origin of
this landscape? How does the geologic structure affect topography and land use?