Tangential curvature

This tool calculates the tangential curvature, which is the curvature of an inclined plan perpendicular to both the direction of flow and the surface (Gallant and Wilson, 2000). Curvature is a second derivative of the topographic surface defined by a digital elevation model (DEM). The user must specify the name of the input DEM and the output raster image. Whitebox reports curvature in degrees multiplied by 100 for easier interpretation. The Z Conversion Factor is only important when the vertical and horizontal units are not the same in the DEM. When this is the case, the algorithm will multiply each elevation in the DEM by the Z Conversion Factor.

The algorithm uses the same formula for the calculation of tangential curvature as presented by Gallant and Wilson (2000).

See Also:

• Profile Curvature
• Plan Curvature
• Total Curvature

Scripting:

The following is an example of a Python script that uses this tool:

wd = pluginHost.getWorkingDirectory()
inputFile = wd + "DEM.dep"
outputFile = wd + "curv.dep"
zFactor = "1.0"
args = [inputFile, outputFile, zFactor]
pluginHost.runPlugin("TangentialCurv", args, False)


This is a Groovy script also using this tool:

def wd = pluginHost.getWorkingDirectory()
def inputFile = wd + "DEM.dep"
def outputFile = wd + "curv.dep"
def zFactor = "1.0"
String[] args = [inputFile, outputFile, zFactor]
pluginHost.runPlugin("TangentialCurv", args, false)


Credits:

• John Lindsay (2012)

References:

• Gallant, J. C., and J. P. Wilson, 2000, Primary topographic attributes, in Terrain Analysis: Principles and Applications, edited by J. P. Wilson and J. C. Gallant pp. 51?86, John Wiley, Hoboken, N.J.