Isopleths are the lines which connect the areas with same values of a given parameter. For example, we use isopleths or isolines for mapping atmospheric pressure, temperature, rainfall etc. To clarify, please note that the units of measurement are different for different parameters. Some of the important isopleths are as following.
Types of Isolines
1. Isobars: Lines joining the areas of equal atmospheric pressure.
2. Isotherms: Lines joining the areas of equal temperature.
3. Isohyets: Lines joining the areas of equal rainfall.
4. Isohels: Lines joining the areas of equal sunshine.
5. Isohalines: Lines joining the areas of equal seawater salinity.
6. Isonephs: Lines joining the areas of equal cloud cover.
7. Isobaths: Lines joining the areas of equal depth from sea level.
8. Isochrone: Lines joining the areas of equal travel time from a given point.
9. Isodapane: Lines joining the areas of equal additional transport cost from the point of production to the point of sale.
10. Isotims: Lines joining the areas from where raw materials can be transported to a given point at equal transport cost.
11. Isotach: Lines joining the areas of equal wind speed.
12. Isopectic: Lines joining the areas where snow starts to form at same time in the year.
13. Isotac: Lines joining the areas of where snow starts to melt at same time in the year.
14. Contours: Lines joining the areas of equal altitude from the sea level.
Uses of Isopleths
- Firstly, isopleths are used depending upon the purpose of the study. One can formulate theories based on the shape and pattern of the isopleths in climatology or economic geography.
- Secondly, these lines define the homogeneity over earth surface. Thus, they are important tools for demarcation of regions.
- Lastly, the isopleths plotted over maps for different time periods also let us foresee and extrapolate the climatic events.
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Kulwinder Singh is an alumni of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and working as Assistant Professor of Geography at Pt. C.L.S. Government College, Kurukshetra University. He is a passionate teacher and avid learner.