What type of data is specifically associated with a location on the Earth's surface?

Geospatial data refers to information that is associated with specific locations on the Earth's surface. This type of data includes geographic coordinates (longitude and latitude), which help identify locations, as well as attributes or characteristics related to those locations. Geospatial data can encompass various forms, such as maps, satellite imagery, and data from Geographic Information Systems (GIS), all of which provide a spatial context to the information.

Orthometric heights, tidal fluctuations, and reference ellipsoids, while important in geodesy and related fields, do not inherently encompass the broader concept of location-specific information. Orthometric heights are used to describe the elevation of a point in relation to a geoid, tidal fluctuations are variations in sea levels driven by gravitational forces, and reference ellipsoids serve as mathematical models of the Earth’s shape for navigation and mapping purposes. They don't represent the wide-ranging information tied to geographical locations that is characteristic of geospatial data.