noun
ground surface; earth's surface
Technical or formal term for the surface of the ground, often used in geography, geology, and civil engineering contexts.
地表面の温度は日射によって変化する。
The temperature of the ground surface changes due to solar radiation.
この地域の地表面は主に粘土で覆われている。
The ground surface in this area is mainly covered with clay.
地面 is the everyday word for 'ground', used in daily conversation, whereas 地表面 is a formal, technical term.
Compound of 地 (chi, 'earth, ground'), 表 (hyō, 'surface'), and 面 (men, 'face, surface'). The reading ちひょうめん follows standard on'yomi.