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.[1] [2]
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.[3]
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.
| Scale | Length | Area | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micro | 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 |