What does spatial resolution refer to in remote sensing?

Spatial resolution is defined as the size of an area on the ground represented by one pixel in a remote sensing image. This concept is crucial in understanding how detailed the captured imagery is regarding the geographic features it represents. A smaller pixel size indicates finer spatial resolution, which allows for a more detailed view of the landscape. For instance, in high-resolution imagery, a pixel may correspond to a 1m x 1m area on the ground, allowing for the identification of smaller features such as individual trees, buildings, or street patterns. In contrast, lower spatial resolution would have larger pixels, leading to a loss of detail and making it difficult to distinguish between smaller features.

While clarity of the imagery, the total number of pixels, and the detail level of multispectral images are all relevant aspects of remote sensing, they do not specifically define spatial resolution in the context of how data is represented on the ground. Each of those concepts may contribute to the overall quality or usefulness of remote sensing data, but they do not convey the direct relationship between pixel size and geographic representation that spatial resolution encompasses.