Hypsometry

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Hypsometry

The word hypsometry derived from the Greek word hupsos that means height and mitron means measure. Thus hypsometry is the measurement of the elevation and depth of the earth surfaces with respect to mean sea level. 


Actually Hypsometry is the science of measuring the elevation of the continental and depth of oceanic features with respect to mean sea level with negative values below the sea level and positive values above the sea level. The hypsometric data are collected by using hypsometers, echo sounders, satellite bases altimeters and wire sounders are used to quantify the distribution of oceanic surfaces with depth of their marginal sea and the distribution of land surfaces at different elevations across a particular region.


A hypsometric curve is a histogram or cumulative distribution function of elevation in a geographical area. Scientists can show how the areas of oceans, marginal seas and terrestrial basins change with elevation and depth using a special curve known as a hypsometric curve. Hypsometric curve was first given by the scientist Leprant 1883. It indicates the proportion of the area of the earth surface at various elevations or depth with respect to Datum (sea level). The height and depth being shown on the vertical (Y) axis and the area on the horizontal (X) axis.

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