Introduction to Latitude and Longitude
Geographic coordinates are the latitudes and longitudes of a location. They create a systematic network of lines that may be used to indicate the position of numerous earth surface features. The location, distance, and direction of numerous points can be easily established using these coordinates. Two reference lines, known as latitude and longitude, determine the places on the Earth's surface. The many differences between latitude and longitude are listed in the table below.
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What is Latitude?
A geographic coordinate that indicates the north-south position of a point on the Earth's surface is known as latitude. The term "latitude" refers to an angle that extends from 0° at the Equator to 90° (North or South) at the poles. As circles parallel to the equator, parallels or lines of constant latitude run east-west. The terminology latitude and longitude are used to describe the exact location of features on the surface of the Earth. The term latitude should be used to refer to the geodetic latitude, which is explained below. In a nutshell, geodetic latitude is the angle formed between a point and the equatorial plane by a vector perpendicular to the ellipsoidal surface.
What is Longitude?
The east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface, or the surface of a celestial body, is specified by longitude. The Greek letter lambda represents an angular measurement. It is commonly given in degrees. Meridians (lines that run from pole to pole) link sites of the same longitude together. By agreement, the prime meridian passes near the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, and is designated as 0° longitude. Longitudes that are positive are east of the prime meridian, whereas those that are negative are west.
Longitude and time are inextricably related due to the earth's rotation. Local time changes with longitude, with a 15-degree shift in longitude equating to a one-hour difference in local time. Longitude can be established by comparing local time to an absolute measure of time. The absolute time may be determined by a celestial occurrence observable from both locations, such as a moon eclipse, or by a time signal communicated by telegraph or wireless, depending on the era. The concept is simple, but in practice, developing a reliable method of measuring longitude took centuries and the efforts of some of the world's most brilliant scientists.
The north-south position of a place is determined by its latitude, which is generally the angle between the local vertical and the equatorial plane. The geometrical or astronomical vertical is commonly used to calculate longitude. Because of tiny fluctuations in Earth's gravitational field, this may fluctuate slightly from the gravitational vertical.
How to Find Latitude and Longitude on Google Maps
To find the latitude and longitude of my location, one has to open the google maps app on an Android phone or phablet. Later, they have to touch and hold the area of ‘my location’, which isn’t labelled in the red pin. Now, they will be able to find the coordinates of latitude and longitude in the search box.
What is the Latitude and Longitude of India?
If you're a geography student, the latitude and longitude of Indian states may be of interest to you. The latitude and longitude of a location on Earth can be used to determine its exact location. India's longitude and latitude are 20' north and 77' east, respectively.
India is the world's seventh-largest country and the second-most populous. India is 3,287,590 square kilometres in size, surrounded by Bangladesh, Burma, Bhutan, China, Nepal, and Pakistan.
It has a coastline of more than 7,000 kilometres and is bordered by the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. It is made up of 28 states and eight union territories. Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, and Bangalore are India's most populous metropolises.
Information Technology, Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Business Management, Travel and Tourism, Financial Consultancy, Real Estate, Consultancies, Educational Institutes, and Construction are all growing sectors in the Indian economy.
Difference Between Latitude and Longitude
Interesting Facts about Latitude and Longitude
The invisible horizontal line that goes around the Earth from East to West is known as latitude. It starts at the Equator, with 0° coordinates.
The Equator separates the Northern and Southern Hemispheres of the Earth.
The Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Indonesia, and Brazil have a latitude of 0°.
In the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, latitude lines run parallel to the Equator, commencing at 0° and counting to 90° North and South.
90°N (North) is the latitude coordinate for the North Pole, while 90°S is the latitude coordinate for the South Pole (South).
The invisible vertical line that goes around the Earth from North to South is known as longitude. The Prime Meridian is located at 0° latitude and longitude.
Greenwich and Cambridge (UK), Lleida (Spain), and Le Havre (France) are among the cities with a longitude of 0°. (France)
Along the Prime Meridian, longitude divides the planet into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
The longitude of 0° is established in Greenwich, London, because the Prime Meridian started there. It crosses the United Kingdom, France, Africa, and various seas.
The longitude coordinates of New York and Cairo are 74°W (West) and 31°E, respectively (East).
To ensure accuracy, latitude and longitude coordinates are written as decimals with up to four decimal places. New York, for example, is located at 74.0059°W.
You may plot any point on the Earth by combining a latitude and a longitude coordinate. For example, 64.1265° N, 21.8174° W will lead you to Reykjavik, Iceland's capital.
FAQs on Latitude and Longitude
1. What are latitude and longitude in geography?
Latitude and longitude are an imaginary grid system, known as geographic coordinates, used to pinpoint any location on Earth's surface. Latitude refers to horizontal lines (parallels) that measure distance north or south of the Equator. Longitude refers to vertical lines (meridians) that measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
2. What is the main difference between lines of latitude and longitude?
The main differences lie in their direction, length, and primary function. Here is a simple comparison:
- Direction: Lines of latitude, or parallels, run east-west, parallel to the Equator. Lines of longitude, or meridians, run north-south from the North Pole to the South Pole.
- Length: Lines of latitude decrease in length as they move from the Equator towards the poles. In contrast, all lines of longitude are equal in length.
- Function: Latitude is crucial for understanding the Earth's climate zones, while longitude is fundamental for calculating and standardising time zones across the world.
3. What are the most important parallels of latitude on Earth?
Besides the Equator (0°), there are four other important parallels of latitude that help define major climate zones:
- The Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N) in the Northern Hemisphere.
- The Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S) in the Southern Hemisphere.
- The Arctic Circle (66.5° N) near the North Pole.
- The Antarctic Circle (66.5° S) near the South Pole.
4. What is the significance of the Prime Meridian in measuring longitude?
The Prime Meridian, which passes through Greenwich, England, is designated as 0° longitude. Its primary significance is that it serves as the universal starting point for measuring distance both east and west around the globe. All other longitudes are measured from this line, up to 180° East and 180° West. This standardisation is essential for global navigation and timekeeping.
5. Why are lines of latitude not equal in length, with the Equator being the longest?
Lines of latitude, or parallels, are complete circles that run around the Earth. Because the Earth is a sphere, its circumference is greatest at its centre, which is the Equator (0° latitude). As you move north or south towards the poles, the distance around the Earth decreases. Consequently, the circles of latitude become progressively smaller, eventually becoming a single point at the North Pole (90° N) and the South Pole (90° S).
6. How do lines of longitude help determine the local time of a place?
The Earth completes a full 360° rotation in 24 hours, meaning it rotates 15° every hour. The lines of longitude are used to establish time zones based on this principle. The Prime Meridian (0° longitude) is the reference point. For every 15° of longitude a place is to the east of Greenwich, its local time is one hour ahead. Conversely, for every 15° to the west, its local time is one hour behind. This system creates a standardized method for global timekeeping.
7. How are the Earth's heat zones determined by latitudes?
The Earth's axial tilt causes sunlight to strike different latitudes at different angles, creating three major heat zones:
- Torrid Zone: Located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, this zone receives the most direct sunlight year-round, making it the hottest part of the Earth.
- Temperate Zones: These lie between the Tropics and the Arctic/Antarctic Circles. They receive slanting sun rays, leading to moderate climates with distinct seasons.
- Frigid Zones: Found between the Arctic/Antarctic Circles and the poles, these zones receive extremely slanted sun rays, resulting in very cold temperatures.
8. What are some real-world examples of how latitude and longitude are used today?
Beyond locating places on a map, the latitude and longitude system is fundamental to modern life. For example, it is the backbone of the Global Positioning System (GPS) used in car navigation and smartphones. It is also used by pilots and sailors for navigation, by meteorologists to track storms and weather patterns, and by scientists to map earthquake epicentres and other geological events.
