Spatial scale
{{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}}Spatial scale is a specific application of the term scale for describing or categorizing (e.g. into orders of magnitude) the size of a space (hence spatial), or the extent of it at which a phenomenon or process occurs.<ref name="PennU">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
For instance, in physics an object or phenomenon can be called microscopic if too small to be visible. In climatology, a micro-climate is a climate which might occur in a mountain, valley or near a lake shore. In statistics, a megatrend is a political, social, economical, environmental or technological trend which involves the whole planet or is supposed to last a very large amount of time. The concept is also used in geography, astronomy, and meteorology.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
These divisions are somewhat arbitrary; where, on this table, mega- is assigned global scope, it may only apply continentally or even regionally in other contexts. The interpretations of meso- and macro- must then be adjusted accordingly.
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| Scale | Length | Area | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micro | 1 m – 1 km | 1 m2 – 1 km2 | local |
| Meso | 1 km - 100 km | 1 km2 - 10,000 km2 | regional |
| Macro | 100 km - 10,000 km | 10,000 km2 - 100,000,000 km2 | continental |
| Mega | 10,000 km - 1,000,000 km | 100,000,000 - 10,000,000,000 km2 | global |
| Giga | >1,000,000 km | >10,000,000,000 km2 | superglobal |
See alsoEdit
- Astronomical units of length
- Cosmic distance ladder
- List of examples of lengths
- Location of Earth
- Meteorological subdivisions:
- Orders of magnitude (length)
- Scale (analytical tool)
- Scale (geography)
- Scale (map)
- Scale (ratio)