1. Gradient VIEW THIS AS A SLIDE SHOW
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2. Since there is a greater change of elevation in equal distance
Gradient Formula:
Change in field value
Gradient =
Distance
Gradient measures the amount of change takes
place in a certain distance
The more change there is in a given distance
the steeper the slope A B
Box A has a steeper gradient
Since there is a greater change
of elevation in equal distance

3. Determining the gradient on a field map
Gradient Formula:
Change in field value
Gradient =
Distance
To determine the change in field value look at the value of the isolines
To figure the change of value:
1. Determine the contour interval
2. Figure the amount of contour intervals
3. Multiply both figures
For the blue line
The contour interval is 20
There are 6 contour intervals
The change in field value is 120 meters
The change in field value of the
orange line is 60 meters

4. To determine the distance use the map scale
The blue line has a
value of about 1.1 miles
The orange line has a
value of about 1.2 miles
120
= meters/mile
Gradient of the blue line is
1.1 60
= 50 meters/mile
Gradient of the orange line is
1.2

5. The closer the isolines are the steeper the gradient
The orange line has a lower gradient then the blue line.
The steepest gradient of the map
since the lines are closest together