maapintaalasta

Maapinta-ala, in Finnish geographic terminology, refers to the total surface area of the Earth's crust that is not covered by oceans and other bodies of water. In practice, it denotes the land surface, including continents and islands, such as deserts, forests, urban areas and mountains. The term is commonly used in statistics and geography to distinguish land area from water area.

Globally, maapinta-ala is about 149 million square kilometers, which corresponds to roughly 29–30 percent of the Earth's total surface. Data are presented in units such as square kilometers or hectares and are produced by space agencies and statistical authorities using satellite imagery and geographic information systems. The figures are periodically revised as measurement methods improve.

The concept is widely used in planning, governance and research. It provides a basis for calculating population density (people per maapinta-ala), assessing land use and infrastructure needs, and modeling environmental variables such as biodiversity, carbon stocks and climate-related processes. It also helps in comparisons between regions and countries.

Definitions and scope can vary between sources. Some definitions exclude inland waters to define “land area,” while others may include certain coastal zones depending on sea level and mapping conventions. Changes in coastline, measurement techniques, and revisions to mapping data can affect reported maapinta-ala over time.

Related topics include land area, geographical area, inland waters, and studies on land use and environmental science.