GRADIENT

Gradient tells you the slope of the land, it will tell you whether the slope is steep, moderate, flat and the shape of the slope is concave, convex or uniform.

GRADIENT INTERPRETATION

Very Steep (1:1)

• An example of a very steep slope, would be a cliff landform.
• It is a slope that you would have to climb.
• The contour pattern on a map will show contour lines extremely close to one another.

Steep (1:2 to 1:4)

• Slopes that cannot be built on, or walked up.
• Steep slopes will be left untouched or unused by humans.
• These slope will have native vegetation and are mostly left for nature activities such as hiking.

Fairly Steep (1:5 to 1:9)

• Fairly Steep Slopes can have buildings constructed on them, although high density housing or building will not occur.
• Terrace Agriculture can also be occur on these slopes (steps are cut into the slope and on each step a crop of rice can be grown)
• Cars can slowly travel up fairly steep slope.

Moderate (1:10 to 1:19)

• Slopes which are suitable for farming, housing, urban infrastructure and industry.
• These slopes are often well drained. For example heavy rainfall over a short period of time on moderately sloped land will be able to drain or flow away into rivers or filter underground.

Gentle (1:20 or greater)

• Gentle slopes can be flat coastal plains.
• Areas of flat land can easily flood, given enough rainfall.
• Excellent slopes for urban construction, living, industry and agriculture.