1. What is Vertical Exaggeration?

Vertical Exaggeration (VE) is a scale difference between the horizontal and vertical axes in topographic profiles and cross-sections. It enhances the visibility of elevation changes in visual representations of terrain.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Vertical Exaggeration formula:

Where:

• \( VE \) — Vertical Exaggeration (dimensionless)
• \( \text{horizontal scale} \) — Map scale ratio (e.g., 1:24000 would be 1/24000)
• \( \text{vertical scale} \) — Elevation scale ratio

Explanation: The equation calculates how many times the vertical scale is exaggerated compared to the horizontal scale in a profile or cross-section.

3. Importance of Vertical Exaggeration

Details: Vertical exaggeration is crucial in geology, cartography, and geomorphology to make subtle topographic features more visible while maintaining accurate horizontal distances.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both horizontal and vertical scales as ratios (e.g., for 1:24000 enter 1/24000 = 0.0000417). Both values must be positive numbers.

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. Higher values make gentle slopes more visible.

Q2: How does vertical exaggeration affect slope perception?
A: Higher VE makes slopes appear steeper than they actually are, which can lead to misinterpretation if not properly noted.

Q3: When is no vertical exaggeration used?
A: True-scale profiles (VE=1) are used when accurate slope representation is critical, such as in engineering applications.

Q4: How does vertical exaggeration affect map interpretation?
A: It emphasizes elevation changes but can distort the true appearance of landforms if not properly accounted for.

Q5: Can vertical exaggeration be less than 1?
A: Yes, values <1 indicate vertical compression, though this is rarely used in practice.