What is a significant feature of the Raster GIS data model?

The significant feature of the Raster GIS data model is the use of grid cells or pixels. This model represents spatial information through a matrix of cells, where each cell holds a value representing a specific attribute, such as color, elevation, or temperature. The grid structure allows for a continuous representation of spatial data, making it particularly effective for phenomena that vary continuously over space, such as satellite imagery or digital elevation models.

Raster data is fundamentally different from vector data, which uses points, lines, and polygons to represent discrete features. The grid cell format in raster data allows for easy manipulation, analysis, and visualization of geographic phenomena that can be represented in a pixelated format, leading to applications in environmental modeling, land cover classification, and mapping changes over time.

In contrast, the other options focus on attributes or aspects that are not exclusive to the raster model or are better suited to vector models or specific applications, such as ocean measurements, which pertain more to specific datasets rather than the structure of the raster data model itself. This distinction is why the use of grid cells or pixels stands out as the core feature defining the raster approach in GIS.