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Bank Retreat Reference Axis Sign Tool

Calculate bank retreat reference axis sign from explicit caller-supplied inputs.

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Description

Multiply laterPosition-earlierPosition by that sign and divide for annualRate.

Landform change is often summarized by differences in height, area, volume, or storage over a defined interval. A signed budget preserves gains and losses, but its meaning depends on a common spatial support and reference surface.

Multiply laterPosition-earlierPosition by that sign and divide for annualRate.

When to use this tool

Use Bank Retreat Reference Axis Sign when you need a local geomorphic change or storage-budget calculation.

How to use the tool and how it works

  1. Enter earlierPosition, laterPosition, retreatPositiveSign, elapsedYears. Use the units and conventions below.
  2. Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
  3. Read signedRetreat, annualRate. Use the output convention below.

Require retreatPositiveSign +1 or -1 and positive elapsedYears. Multiply laterPosition-earlierPosition by that sign and divide for annualRate.1

Input fieldMeaning and unitsAccepted input
earlierPositionEarlier PositionRequired. Finite number.
laterPositionLater PositionRequired. Finite number.
retreatPositiveSignRetreat Positive SignRequired. Safe integer.
elapsedYearsElapsed YearsRequired. Finite number; strictly above 0.
Output fieldInterpretationReturned shape
signedRetreatSigned RetreatRequired. Finite number.
annualRateAnnual RateRequired. Finite number.
json
{
  "input": {
    "earlierPosition": 10,
    "laterPosition": 7,
    "retreatPositiveSign": -1,
    "elapsedYears": 3
  },
  "output": {
    "signedRetreat": 3,
    "annualRate": 1
  }
}

Limitations and assumptions

  • Positions share one transect reference and unit; sign and elapsed time are supplied and no bank extraction, movement uncertainty, future retreat, or hazard is inferred.
  • Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
  • Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.

Alternative or Complementary methods

Compare aligned surveys and their uncertainty over the same spatial support. A full mass or volume balance should include omitted fluxes, evolving geometry, and measurement error.

References

  1. Calculation and input contract: geomorphology/bank-retreat-reference-axis-sign — tool.io

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