Final answer:
The correct unit of measurement for forest loss when measured by area over time is square meters per year. This is a derived unit combining area and time, and it's essential in conversions of metric units of area to include conversion factors for each dimension of length.
Step-by-step explanation:
If we measure forest loss in square meters per year, the appropriate unit of measurement would be square meters per year. When measuring an area that changes over time, we combine the unit of area (square meters) with the unit of time (per year) to express the rate of change. In this case, since we are talking about a rate of change of an area (a two-dimensional space) over time, the correct unit is square meters per year (m²/year), which is a derived unit that indicates how much area is lost each year.
Here are some examples to understand measurements in related contexts:
- The depth to plant a seed in the soil would be measured in meters or, more commonly, in centimeters.
- The height of a tree would typically be measured in meters.
- The area of a garden plot would be measured in square meters.
When converting between different metric units of area, remember that the conversion must take into account the square units. For instance, to convert from square meters to square centimeters, you need to use two conversion factors since you're converting both the length and the width from meters to centimeters.