In terms of reporting intensities, what does the term "spatial" refer to?

The term "spatial" in the context of reporting intensities refers to the physical locations where the intensity is measured in the beam pattern. Specifically, this involves the variation of intensity at different points within the beam's cross-sectional area.

When we consider spatial intensity, we are assessing how intensity is distributed in space, which could imply looking at various locations within a single ultrasound beam. For example, different parts of the beam may have different intensities due to the way ultrasound energy is transmitted and scattered.

Using this understanding, the correct interpretation of spatial intensity would relate to evaluating the distance and distribution of intensity across the beam width or along its path. In contrast, other interpretations of intensities focus on different aspects, such as total intensity over time or average intensity, which do not capture the concept of spatial distribution as effectively.