angle of depression

angle of depression

[′aŋ·gəl əv di′presh·ən]

(engineering)

The angle in a vertical plane between the horizontal and a descending line. Also known as depression angle; descending vertical angle; minus angle.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

angle of depression

i. In aerial photography, the angle between the optical axis of an obliquely mounted air camera and the horizontal. Also called a depression angle.
ii. The angle in a vertical plane between the horizontal and a descending line as viewed from an observer to an object (e.g., angle of depression of radar).
iii. The angle between the horizontal plane passing through the sensor and the line connecting the sensor and the target.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved