What term is used for the height of a geographical location above sea level?

The term used for the height of a geographical location above sea level is elevation. Elevation specifically refers to the vertical distance of a point on the Earth's surface in relation to mean sea level, which serves as a baseline for measuring heights across different terrains. This measurement is crucial in various fields, such as geography, meteorology, and environmental science, as it helps inform about climate variations, biodiversity, and potential human impacts on the landscape.

Altitude, while similar, generally describes the height of an object in the air relative to sea level, typically referring to flight levels in aviation or how high something is above ground level rather than a fixed point on Earth’s surface. Ascent refers to the act of rising or increasing in height but does not specifically denote a measurement. Distance, on the other hand, measures the space between two points and does not directly relate to vertical height above sea level.