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The understanding of topography is critical for a number of reasons. In terms of environmental quality, agriculture, and hydrology, understanding the topography of an area enables the understanding of watershed boundaries, drainage characteristics, water movement, and impacts on water quality.
Understanding topography also impinges on soil conservation , especially in agriculture. Contour plowing is an established practice of enabling sustainable agriculture on sloping land, and is the practice of plowing along topographic lines.
Topography is critical militarilyMilitary (from latin militarius miles "soldier") as an adjective describes anything related to soldiers and warfare. Used as a noun, it is equivalent to Armed force. See also Armed force Martial art Militaria Military history Military rule Military by cou because it determines the ability of armed forces to take and hold areas, and to move troops and material into and through areas.
Topography is important in determining weatherWeather comprises all the various phenomena that occur in the atmosphere of a planet. On Earth the regular events include wind, storms, rain, and snow, which occur in the troposphere or the lower part of the atmosphere. Weather is driven by energy from th patterns. Two areas in fairly close proximity geographically may differ radically in characteristics such as precipitationIn meteorology, precipitation is any kind of water that falls from the sky as part of the weather. This includes snow, rain, sleet, freezing rain, hail, and virga. Precipitation is a major part of the hydrologic cycle, and is responsible for depositing mo because of elevation differences or because of a " rain shadowA rain shadow (or more accurately, precipitation shadow is a dry region on the surface of the Earth that is leeward or behind a mountain with respect to the prevailing wind direction. A rain shadow area is dry because, as moist air masses rise to top a mo" effect.
Tectonic processes and erosionErosion is the displacement of solids ( soil, mud, rock, and so forth) by the agents of wind, water, ice, or movement in response to gravity. Although the processes may be simultaneous, erosion is to be distinguished from weathering, which is the decomposal processes are the determiners of topography. Tectonic processes such as orogeniesOrogeny is a geologic term associated with periods of mountain building. An orogenic belt therefore, is a geologic structure associated with continental collisions and mountain building. Generally orogenic belts consist of long parallel strips of rock exh cause land to be elevated, and erosional (and weatheringWeathering is the process of decomposition and/or disintegration of rocks in situ, that is, in place. It is not to be confused with erosion, which is the movement of rocks and/or weathering products by water, wind, ice or gravity. The breakdown products,) processes cause land to be worn away to lower elevations. Either process may determine steep slopes, etc.See also: geomorphology, landform.