Spatial scale

{{other uses|Scale (disambiguation)}}'''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">{{cite web|url=https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog30/node/317|title=Scale|publisher=The Pennsylvania State University|date=2020|accessdate=21 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Atkinson |first1=Peter M. |title=Encyclopedia of Social Measurement |chapter=Spatial Scale, Problems of |date=2005 |pages=639–648 |doi=10.1016/B0-12-369398-5/00355-8 |isbn=978-0-12-369398-3 }}</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>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-06 |title=spatial scale |url=https://archive.unescwa.org/spatial-scale |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia |language=en}}</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.

thumb|left|This animation gives a sense of the scale of some of the known objects in our universe.

{| class="wikitable floatright nowrap" |+ Examples of scales in geography and metereology<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Science and Art of Meteorology |url=https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/science-art-meteorology |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=education.nationalgeographic.org |language=en}}</ref> |- ! 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 |} {{clear}}

== See also == {{div col|colwidth=23em}} * Astronomical units of length * Cosmic distance ladder * List of examples of lengths * Location of Earth * Meteorological subdivisions: ** Microscale meteorology ** Misoscale meteorology ** Mesoscale meteorology ** Synoptic scale meteorology * Orders of magnitude (length) * Scale (analytical tool) * Scale (geography) * Scale (map) * Scale (ratio) {{div col end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Concepts in physics Category:Geography terminology Category:Cartography Category:Length

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