1. What Is Vertical Exaggeration?

Vertical Exaggeration (VE) is the ratio of the vertical scale to the horizontal scale in a topographic profile or cross-section. It's used to emphasize subtle changes in elevation that might otherwise be difficult to see.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Vertical Exaggeration formula:

Where:

• \( Vertical\ Scale \) — The scale of the vertical axis (e.g., 1:1000)
• \( Horizontal\ Scale \) — The scale of the horizontal axis (e.g., 1:50000)

Explanation: The formula compares the vertical scale to the horizontal scale to determine how much the vertical dimension is exaggerated relative to the horizontal dimension.

3. Importance of Vertical Exaggeration

Details: Vertical exaggeration is crucial in geology, cartography, and engineering to visualize terrain features that would otherwise appear too subtle when drawn to true scale.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both vertical and horizontal scales using the same units. The scales can be entered as direct values (e.g., 1000 for 1:1000) or as ratios (e.g., 0.001 for 1:1000).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a typical vertical exaggeration value?
A: Common values range from 2x to 10x, depending on the terrain and purpose of the profile.

Q2: When should I use vertical exaggeration?
A: Use it when you need to emphasize subtle topographic features that would be hard to see at true scale.

Q3: What happens with too much vertical exaggeration?
A: Excessive VE can distort the true appearance of the landscape and make gentle slopes appear steep.

Q4: How does vertical exaggeration affect slope angles?
A: VE increases the apparent steepness of slopes. The greater the VE, the steeper slopes will appear.

Q5: Is vertical exaggeration used in seismic interpretation?
A: Yes, seismic sections often use significant vertical exaggeration to make subtle features more visible.