The barn is a unit of area and is used in particle physics with the symbol b.
It represents approximately the area of the cross-section of a uraneum nucleus, so is very small compared to most other recognised units of area.
It is also used to measure the interaction of a nucleus with an electric field gradient in nuclear quadrupole and magnetic resonance.
The square kilometre is a unit of area and is a multiple of the square metre; an SI derived unit. It has the symbol km².
A square kilometre is equal to the area of a square with edges 1km long. There are 1,000,000 square metres in a square kilometre.
Square kilometres are often used to describe expansive areas of land due to the large unit size.