How is capacity expressed in environmental measurements?

In environmental measurements, capacity is typically expressed as the volume of a three-dimensional space that can contain a substance. This volume is calculated by multiplying the three dimensions of an object: length, width, and height. This formula gives the total capacity in cubic units, which is essential for determining how much of a material, such as water or air, can be stored or contained in a particular space.

Using this approach allows for a clear understanding of the size and volume of containers, landfills, reservoirs, and other environmental components that require such measurements. In contrast, the other options do not provide an accurate representation of capacity. For example, simply adding dimensions together does not yield a meaningful measurement of volume, and subtracting dimensions does not relate to physical capacity in any standard sense. Use of area calculations (length x width) applies to surface space rather than the total volume capacity, further underscoring why the multiplication of all three dimensions is necessary for accurate volume assessment.