30-m Profile Curvature

The lidar Profile Curvature is the Profile Curvature data product produced and distributed by the National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The primary output is the curvature of the surface on a cell-by-cell basis, as fitted through that cell and its eight surrounding neighbors. Curvature is the second derivative of the surface, or the slope-of-the-slope. Two optional output curvature types are possible: the profile curvature is in the direction of the maximum slope, and the plan curvature is perpendicular to the direction of the maximum slope.A positive curvature indicates the surface is upwardly convex at that cell. A negative curvature indicates the surface is upwardly concave at that cell. A value of 0 indicates the surface is flat. In the profile output, a negative value indicates the surface is upwardly convex at that cell. A positive profile indicates the surface is upwardly concave at that cell. A value of 0 indicates the surface is flat.