  In this paper, we derive a new drift-kinetic method for estimating gradients
in the plasma properties through a velocity space distribution at a single
point. The gradients are intrinsically related to agyrotropic features of the
distribution function. This method predicts the gradients in the magnetized
distribution function, and can predict gradients of arbitrary moments of the
gyrotropic background distribution function. The method allows for estimates on
density and pressure gradients on the scale of a Larmor radius, proving to
resolve smaller scales than any method currently available to spacecraft. The
model is verified with a set of fully-kinetic VPIC particle-in-cell
simulations.
