Which aspect is measured by 'slope analysis' in GIS?

Slope analysis in GIS is primarily concerned with measuring the steepness or degree of incline of a surface. This analysis is critical in various applications, such as determining water drainage patterns, assessing landslide risks, or understanding soil erosion potential. The calculation of slope involves evaluating the change in elevation over a certain horizontal distance. This information is often represented as a percentage, degree, or ratio, indicating how steep the terrain is at any given point.

While curvature, elevation, and area are important aspects of terrain and land surface analysis, they do not specifically describe the measure of incline, which is the core focus of slope analysis. Understanding slope is pivotal in many fields, including environmental science, urban planning, and engineering, making this analysis a fundamental component of geographic information systems.