What term describes the bending of light that affects readings in surveying due to the earth's curvature?

The bending of light as it passes through different media, which affects readings in surveying, is known as refraction. This phenomenon occurs because light travels at different speeds in different materials, and when it enters a medium like the atmosphere, which has varying densities, its path bends. In surveying, the earth's curvature influences how light travels over distances, which can alter the perceived position of points on the ground. Understanding refraction is crucial for surveyors, as accurate measurements are essential for effective planning and execution of surveying tasks.

Other terms such as diffraction, reflection, and dispersion do not apply in the same context. Diffraction refers to the bending of waves around obstacles, reflection involves light bouncing off surfaces, and dispersion relates to the separation of light into different colors. None of these concepts directly impacts light readings in the context of surveying like refraction does.