What does Statistical analysis process quantify in spatial analysis?

The statistical analysis process in spatial analysis primarily focuses on quantifying spatial distribution and relationships using numbers and statistics. This involves employing mathematical and statistical tools to evaluate patterns and trends in geographical data. Analysts use metrics such as mean, median, standard deviation, correlation, and regression to understand how different spatial phenomena relate to each other and to identify any underlying structures that may not be immediately obvious from a mere visual inspection of the data.

By quantifying spatial relationships and distributions, analysts can derive insights into the characteristics of various geographical features and how they interact within a given space. This is essential for tasks such as identifying hotspots of activity, assessing accessibility to services, and understanding environmental or urban phenomena.

The other options focus on aspects not central to statistical analysis in this context; temporal relationships, surface area computation, and migration patterns are important in spatial studies but are not the core focus of statistical analysis as it pertains to quantifying spatial aspects. Thus, the chosen answer aptly represents the essence of statistical analysis within spatial analysis frameworks.