The surface area of an economy incl

The surface area of an economy includes inland bodies of water
and some coastal waterways. Surface area thus differs from land
area, which excludes bodies of water, and from gross area, which
may include offshore territorial waters. Land area is particularly
important for understanding an economy’s agricultural capacity and
the environmental effects of human activity. Innovations in satellite
mapping and computer databases have resulted in more precise
measurements of land and water areas.