authority: folia
slug: hillshade
name: Hillshade
domain: land
subdomain: topography
authority_id: folia:hillshade
parent: elevation
external_ids:
  cf_standard_name: null
canonical_units: "1"
external_validations:
  gdal:
    tool: gdaldem
    algorithm: hillshade
    docs_url: https://gdal.org/programs/gdaldem.html#hillshade
  qgis:
    algorithm_id: native:hillshade
    docs_url: https://docs.qgis.org/latest/en/docs/user_manual/processing_algs/qgis/rasterterrainanalysis.html#hillshade
  gee:
    op: ee.Terrain.hillshade
    docs_url: https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/apidocs/ee-terrain-hillshade
description: |
  Shaded relief computed from a DEM by simulating illumination from a
  light source at a specified azimuth and elevation. Output is a
  visualization layer (0-255 or 0-1), not a measurable physical
  quantity. Primarily used as a cartographic basemap or as an input
  to multi-directional terrain rendering.
theme: terrain
consumed_by: []
produced_by:
  - terrain_hillshade
demos: []
status: documented
sources:
  - https://gdal.org/programs/gdaldem.html#hillshade
  - Horn, B.K.P. 1981, Proceedings of the IEEE 69, 14-47