 Covector evolution of a material scalar gradient

Differentiate the advection equation componentwise: $D_t({\partial }_i\theta )=-({\partial }_i{u}_j){\partial }_j\theta$. Along a Lagrangian trajectory, the scalar gradient therefore evolves by the negative transpose of the velocity gradient tensor. If $F$ is the deformation gradient, this says $\mathbf{k}(t)=F(t{)}^{-T}\mathbf{k}(0)$, as expected for a covector. Fluid material vectors and scalar gradients transform oppositely under stretching.