Scale Glossary

A process or multiple processes that do not occur at the same time.

A spatial or temporal scale with an extent that is considered to be relatively large.

Processes at one scale that affect those at higher or lower scales

The entire window from which all observations are taken, referring to an area or time span.

A spatial or temporal scale with an extent that is considered to be relatively small.

The size or duration of the individual units of observation. Grain may refer to a plot size, pixel resolution, the size of grid cells, or the minimum unit of time from which observations are taken from. 

Variability within a system that accounts for scale. It is the quality of something to be made up of many different parts, elements, kinds, or individuals with these different components occurring at different scales at varying densities.

A specific case of cross-scale interactions in which broad scale processes constrain a phenomenon occurring at finer scales

The spatial or temporal dimension of an object or process, characterized by both grain and extent (Turner & Gardner, 2015)

The entire area of interest (i.e., extent) and the smallest unit of area (i.e., grain) over which observations are taken. All measurements have a spatial scale.

A process or multiple processes that occur at the same time.

The entire timespan of interest (i.e., extent) and the smallest unit of time over which observations are taken. All measurements have a temporal scale.