Which term refers to a measurement of the rate of elevation change at a location?

The term that refers to a measurement of the rate of elevation change at a location is slope. Slope is a critical concept in geographic information science and represents the steepness or degree of incline of a surface. It is typically expressed as a ratio, percentage, or degree, indicating how much elevation changes over a specific horizontal distance. Understanding slope is vital for various applications, including hydrology, engineering, and environmental studies, as it influences water drainage, soil erosion, and land use planning.

Gradient, while it sounds similar to slope, generally refers to the rate of change in a specific direction but can be less precise when discussing topography. Slope aspect, on the other hand, refers specifically to the direction the slope faces, rather than the steepness itself. An elevation model depicts the terrain's surface in three-dimensional space but doesn't directly quantify the rate of elevation change at a specific point. Therefore, slope is the most appropriate term for measuring how quickly elevation changes at a designated location.