Aspect: orientation to the sun
The standard
A stated aspect names the compass direction and inclination of the parcel it refers to. A compass direction alone describes the situation only by half.
Criteria
- It names the compass direction of the slope
- It names the degree of slope inclination
- It refers to a delimited parcel, not the whole estate
- It remains constant across the years
Distinction
Aspect ≠ altitude: one describes the orientation, the other the height above sea level. Aspect ≠ microclimate: a stated aspect is a cause of the local climate, not the local climate itself.