Vertical exaggeration (VE) refers to how much a cross-sectional profile has been exaggerated compared to the actual terrain. To calculate VE, divide the vertical scale by the horizontal scale. The vertical scale represents the height units per centimeter on the profile, while the horizontal scale is the map scale used to create the profile. The VE number indicates how many times the vertical axis has been stretched compared to the horizontal axis.

1. Vertical Exaggeration

3. How do you find the scales? the vertical scale is the scale on the vertical axis of the cross section. the horizontal scale is the scale of the map the map from which the cross section was drawn. - both the VS and HS must use the same units, ie m's or km's.

4. Inquiry 1. Why use VE? 2. How do you calculate VE? 3. How do you express the VE answer? 4. What does the number mean?

7. How to calculate VE? Interpret the vertical scale and find what one cm represents in metres eg 1/20 Find the map scale (this is called the horizontal scale) eg 1:100,000 and convert this into metres = 1/1000 VE = VS/HS, so, 1/20 divided by 1/1000 Invert the denominator (because to divide fractions you invert then multiply) 1/20 x 1000/1 = 50

8. What does the answer mean? To accurately interpret a cross-sectional profile we need to determine how much exaggeration has occurred. To do this we measure how much the vertical axis has been exaggerated compared with its actual shape. This is called vertical exaggeration. It means that the cross sectional profile has been exaggerated 50 times. This allows Geographers to see a side on Profile of the key cultural and natural features from a map.

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