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In vector calculus, the divergence is an operator that measures the magnitude of a vector field's source or sink at a given point; the divergence of a vector field is a (signed) scalar. For instance, for a vector field that denotes the velocity of air expanding as it is heated, the divergence of the velocity field would have a positive value because the air is expanding. Conversely, if the air is cooling and contracting, the divergence would be negative.