What is the significance of the term "Decimal Degrees" in GIS?

The term "Decimal Degrees" refers to a numerical representation of geographic coordinates that express latitude and longitude in decimal format rather than in degrees, minutes, and seconds. This format is significant in GIS because it provides a simple and efficient way to represent geographic locations. Decimal degrees are particularly useful for computations and database storage since they simplify calculations involving geographic coordinates, such as distance and area measurements.

Using decimal degrees aligns with various data standards and practices established by organizations such as the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). This alignment helps ensure that GIS data can be easily shared and understood across different systems and applications, promoting interoperability.

In contrast, while the other options might reference aspects of GIS, they do not directly capture the specific importance of "Decimal Degrees" as a coordinate representation. For instance, calculating distances involves using coordinates but does not directly describe how those coordinates are formatted or represented. Similarly, area measurement and mapping tools involve a broader set of methodologies and practices that go beyond the specific representation of geographic coordinates in decimal format.