What does spatial accuracy in raster data assess?

Spatial accuracy in raster data specifically assesses whether the cell values are correctly located in relation to the geographic features they represent. This means that the coordinates of the raster cells align accurately with the real-world locations they are intended to depict. High spatial accuracy ensures that the data reflects the true positioning of features, which is crucial for applications like mapping, spatial analysis, and decision-making.

Focusing on the other options, while accurate representation of the area modeled, temporal correctness, or proper elevation and color are relevant characteristics of raster data, they pertain to different aspects of data quality. Accurate representation of cell values may relate more to the thematic accuracy, but not to spatial accuracy. Temporal accuracy concerns the correctness of data based on the time it was collected, not its physical positioning on the Earth's surface. Lastly, elevation or color correctness deals with how well the data captures the characteristics of the terrain or features but does not inherently address their spatial alignment. Therefore, spatial accuracy's emphasis on the correct placement of values makes it a fundamental aspect of handling and interpreting raster datasets in GIS.