Contents Notes - Profile:

"A scale representation of the intersection of a vertical surface (which may or may not be a plane) with the surface of the ground, or of the intersection of such a vertical surface with [the surface] of a conceptual three-dimensional model representing phenomena having a continuous distribution, e.g., rainfall." (32) A profile is "the outline produced where the plane of a section cuts the surface of the ground." (33)

Profiles may or may not be drawn to scale.

If sub-surface information is depicted below the profile line the phrase cross section is preferred. Examples: