elevation changes
Terrain height differences
Elevation changes are variations in height across terrain or along a route.
Hikers check elevation changes to gauge difficulty—a trail with significant elevation changes involves steep climbs and descents.
The term appears in fitness tracking, geography, and urban planning: The bike path has minimal elevation changes.
Also called elevation gain and loss when measuring ascent and descent separately.
- canyonsDeep, narrow valleys
- vertical dropHeight difference, straight down
- ridgesNarrow elevated formations
- dropFall or release
- contour linesLines joining equal elevations
rise · high point · fall · slope · altimeter · cliffs · escarpments · topographic map · gradient · mountains · clinometer · barometer · dip · ups and downs · ramps · relief · incline · uphill
topographic variability
elevation changesflat ground
Terrain without slopes
flat terrain · level ground · flatness · plains · flatlands