Route Cumulative Descent Summator from Elevation List
Sum positive falls along caller ordered measured elevation list; no DEM smoothing or route-position inference.
Description
Route Cumulative Descent Summator from Elevation List: return cumulative descent m.
Cumulative descent adds each downward elevation change along an ordered route. It is not the same as the difference between start and finish elevations.
This tool returns cumulative descent m. Use the stated units and model convention when interpreting these fields.
When to use this tool
Use this tool when the supplied inputs match the specific operation described above and you need a repeatable result under its stated convention.
- Check the supported input and output contract against an existing calculation or observation.
- Use the complete example to confirm units, selector spelling and result interpretation.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter every field in the input table using the stated units and the exact supported selector spelling where applicable.
- Run the tool. Correct input errors before interpreting an output.
- Read the result fields below; use accompanying flags and the stated sign, boundary or model convention when interpreting a number.
Require at least two elevations and sum max(0, previous-current) across consecutive samples.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| observedElevationsM | Observed elevations m. Meters. | List of finite numbers |
| Output field | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| result | Object containing the following named result fields. |
| result.cumulativeDescentM | Cumulative descent m; use the stated units and sign convention. |
{
"input": {
"observedElevationsM": [
0,
10,
5,
20
]
},
"output": {
"result": {
"cumulativeDescentM": 5
}
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Measurement noise and sample spacing can change the total; no smoothing or route correction is applied.
- Every declared field is required and unexpected fields are rejected. Numeric inputs must be finite; input errors are distinct from a valid false result or an explicitly qualified output.
- Extremely large inputs and nonfinite or excessively large outputs are rejected. List positions reported by the tool use zero-based indices unless stated otherwise.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Check the underlying observations, units and conventions independently before using the result in a larger workflow. The tools listed below address nearby tasks; compare their inputs and scope before substituting one for this operation.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Route Cumulative Ascent Summator from Elevation List
Sum positive rises along caller ordered measured elevation list; no DEM smoothing or route-position inference.
- Aspect Direction Octant Classifier from Slope Components
Downhill compass aspect from explicitly east/north uphill partial derivatives; flat separately reported, half-octant boundaries round clockwise.