Latitude Geography Overview By Amanda Briney Updated July 25, 2016. Latitude is the angular distance of any point on Earth measured north or south of the equator in degrees, minutes and seconds. The equator is a line going around Earth and is halfway between the North and South Poles , it is given a latitude of 0°. Values increase north of the equator and are considered positive and values south of the equator decrease and are sometimes considered negative or have south attached to them. For example, if a latitude of 30°N was given, this would mean that it was north of the equator. The latitude -30° or 30°S is a location south of the equator. On a map, these are the lines running horizontally from east-west. Latitude lines are also sometimes called parallels because they are parallel and equidistant from each other. Each degree of latitude is about 69 miles (111 km) apart. The degree measure of latitude is the name of the angle from the equator while the parallel names the actual line along which degree points are measured.

continue reading below our video Latitude and Longitude For example, 45°N latitude is the angle of latitude between the equator and the 45th parallel (it is also halfway between the equator and the North Pole). The 45th parallel is the line along which all latitudinal values are 45°. The line is also parallel to the 46th and 44th parallels. Like the equator, parallels are also considered circles of latitude or lines that circle the entire Earth. Since the equator divides the Earth into two equal halves and its center coincides with that of the Earth, it is the only line of latitude that is a great circle while all other parallels are small circles. Development of Latitudinal Measurements Since ancient times, people have tried to come up with reliable systems with which to measure their location on Earth. For centuries, both Greek and Chinese scientists attempted several different methods but a reliable one did not develop until the ancient Greek geographer, astronomer and mathematician, Ptolemy , created a grid system for the Earth. To do this, he divided a circle into 360°.

Each degree comprised 60 minutes (60') and each minute comprised 60 seconds (60''). He then applied this method to Earth's surface and located places with degrees, minutes and seconds and published the coordinates in his book Geography. Although this was the best attempt at defining the location of places on Earth at the time, the precise length of a degree of latitude was unresolved for around 17 centuries. In the middle ages, the system was finally fully developed and implemented with a degree being 69 miles (111 km) and with coordinates being written in degrees with the symbol °. Minutes and seconds are written with ', and '', respectively. Measuring Latitude Today, latitude is still measured in degrees, minutes and seconds. A degree of latitude is still around 69 miles (111 km) while a minute is approximately 1.15 miles (1.85 km). A second of latitude is just over 100 feet (30 m). Paris, France for example, has a coordinate of 48°51'24''N.

The 48° indicates that it lies near the 48th parallel while the minutes and seconds indicate just how close it is to that line. The N shows that it is north of the equator. In addition to degrees, minutes and seconds, latitude can also be measured using decimal degrees . Paris' location in this format looks like, 48.856°. Both formats are correct, although degrees, minutes and seconds is the most common format for latitude. Both however, can be converted between each other and allow people to locate places on Earth to within inches. One nautical mile , a mile type used by sailors and navigators in the shipping and aviation industries, represents one minute of latitude. Parallels of latitude are approximately 60 nautical (nm) apart. Finally, areas described as having low latitude are those with lower coordinates or are closer to the equator while those with high latitudes have high coordinates and are far. For example, the Arctic Circle, which has a high latitude is at 66°32'N. Bogota, Columbia with its latitude of 4°35'53''N is at a low latitude.

Important Lines of Latitude When studying latitude, there are three significant lines to remember. The first of these is the equator. The equator, located at 0°, is the longest line of latitude on Earth at 24,901.55 miles (40,075.16 km). It is significant because it is the exact center of the Earth and it divides that Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres . It also receives the most direct sunlight on the two equinoxes . At 23.5°N is the Tropic of Cancer. It runs through Mexico, Egypt, Saudi Arabia , India and southern China. The Tropic of Capricorn is at 23.5°S and it runs through Chile, Southern Brazil, South Africa , and Australia. These two parallels are significant because they receive direct sun on the two solstices . In addition, the area between the two lines is the area known as the tropics . This region does not experience seasons and is normally warm and wet in its climate . Finally, the Arctic Circle and Antarctic Circle are also important lines of latitude. They are at 66°32'N and 66°32'S.

The climates of these locations are harsh and Antarctica is the largest desert in the world. These are also the only places that experience 24-hour sunlight and 24-hour darkness in the world. Importance of Latitude Besides making it easier for one to locate different places on Earth, latitude is important to geography because it helps navigation and researchers understand the various patterns seen on Earth. High latitudes for example, have very different climates than low latitudes. In the Arctic, it is much colder and drier than in the tropics. This is a direct result of the unequal distribution of solar insolation between the equator and the rest of the Earth. Increasingly, latitude also results in extreme seasonal differences in climate because sunlight and sun angle vary at different times of the year depending on latitude. This affects temperature and the types of flora and fauna that can live in an area. Tropical rainforests for example, are the most biodiverse places in the world while harsh conditions in the Arctic and Antarctic make it difficult for many species to survive. Take a look at this simple map of latitude and longitude. How Far Is It Between Lines of Latitude and Longitude? By Matt Rosenberg Updated October 01, 2016.

In order to precisely locate a place in the world, we use a grid system that is measured in degrees of latitude and longitude . But how far is it from one degree of latitude to another? How are far east or west do we have to travel to reach the next degree of longitude? These are very good questions and very common in the world of geography. In order to get the answer, we need to look at each piece of the grid separately. What is the Distance Between Degrees of Latitude? Degrees of latitude are parallel so, for the most part, the distance between each degree remains constant. However, the earth is slightly elliptical in shape and that creates a small variation between the degrees as we work our way from the equator to the north and south poles. Each degree of latitude is approximately 69 miles (111 kilometers) apart. At the equator, the distance is 68.703 miles (110.567 kilometers). At the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° north and south) , the distance is 68.94 miles (110.948 kilometers).

At each of the poles, the distance is 69.407 miles (111.699 kilometers). This is rather convenient when you want to know how far it is between each degree, no matter where you are on Earth. All you need to know is that each minute (1/60th of a degree) is approximately one mile. For example, if we were at 40° north, 100° west we would be on the Nebraska-Kansas border. If we were to go directly north to 41° north, 100° west, we would have traveled about 69 miles and would now be near Interstate 80. What is the Distance Between Degrees of Longitude? Unlike latitude, the distance between degrees of longitude varies greatly. They are farthest apart at the equator and converge at the poles. A degree of longitude is widest at the equator with a distance of 69.172 miles (111.321 kilometers). The distance gradually shrinks to zero as they meet at the poles. At 40° north or south*, the distance between a degree of longitude is 53 miles (85 kilometers).

*Where is 40° north and south? 40° north runs through the middle of the United States and China as well as Turkey and Spain. 40° south is south of Africa, goes through the southern part of Chile and Argentina, and runs almost directly through the center of New Zealand. How Do I Know How Far It Is From One Point to Another? What if you are given two coordinates for latitude and longitude and you need to know how far it is between the two locations? You could use what is known as a 'haversine' formula to calculate the distance, but unless you are a whiz at trigonometry, it is not easy. Luckily, in today's digital world, computers can do the math for us. Most interactive map applications will allow you to input GPS coordinates of latitude and longitude and tell you the distance between the two points. There are a number of latitude/longitude distance calculators available online. The National Hurricane Center has one that is very easy to use. Keep in mind that you can also find the precise latitude and longitude of a location using a map application.

In Google Maps, for example, you can simply click on a location and a pop-up window will give latitude and longitude data to a millionth of a degree. Similarly, if you right click on a location in MapQuest you will get the latitude and longitude data. Article edited by Allen Grove, September, 2016 Latitude and Longitude - Geolounge Latitude and Longitude 29 Total Shares If you take a look at a map or globe of the world, you may notice lines running east-west and north-south. The lines run east-west are known as lines of latitude. The lines running north-south are known as lines of longitude. Related: How to Remember the Difference Between Latitude and Longitude ) Ad: Latitude While lines of latitude run across a map east-west, the point of latitude makes the n0rth-south position of a point on earth. Lines of latitude start at 0 degrees at the equator and end a 90 degrees at the North and South Poles. Everything north of the equator is known as the Northern Hemisphere and everything south of the equator is known as the Southern Hemisphere. Lines of latitude are called parallels and in total there are 180 degrees of latitude.

The distance between each degree of latitude is about 69 miles (110 kilometers). The five major parallels of latitudes from north to south are called: Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, and the Antarctic Circle. On a maps where the orientation of the map is either due north or due south, latitude appears as horizontal lines. Longitude Longitude lines run north-south and mark the position east-west of a point. Lines of longitude are known as meridians. These lines run from pole to pole, crossing the equator at right angles. There are 360 degrees of latitude and the latitude line of 0 degrees is known as the Prime Meridian and it divides the world into the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere (-180 degrees degrees of longitude west and 180 degrees of longitude east). The distance between longitudes narrows the further away from the equator. The distance between longitudes at the equator is the same as latitude, roughly 69 miles. At 45 degrees north or south, the distance between is about 49 miles (79 km).

The distance between longitudes reaches zero at the poles as the lines of meridian converge at that point. Displaying Geographic Locations as Coordinates To provide a geographic location using latitude and longitude, a pair of numbers known as coordinates are used. Coordinates are composed of degrees, minutes, and seconds (DMS). When providing coordinates, Latitude is always written first. To provide the location of the United States Capitol building using latitude and longitude would be: 38° 53′ 35″ N, 77° 00′ 32″ W. Decimal Degrees, which converts the minutes and seconds portion of the coordinates, is another way to write coordinates. In stead of noting the cardinal directions (N,S,W, or W) in decimal degrees, points that are west of the Prime Meridian and south of equator are preceded by a negative sign. Therefore, the United States Capitol’s coordinates in decimal degrees are 38.889722°, -77.008889°. Many mapping programs such as Google Maps use DD . Equator The equator divides the earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere is marks the location of 0 degrees latitude.

The equator marks the locations on earth that are equidistance from the North and South Poles. The equator crosses 78.7% water and 21.3% land and is about 24,901 miles (40,075 km) long. Map of the equator (red line), Tropic of Cancer The Tropic of Cancer marks the location where the sun reaches the zenith at this latitude. The exact latitude is not a fixed point and the latest measurement for 2014 is 23° 26′ 14.675″ (23° 26′ 16″) . The summer solstice, which occurs on either June 20 or 21 of each year, marks the day on which the sun shines vertically over this parallel. Map with the red line marking the Tropic of Cancer. Tropic of Capricorn Moving every year, the Tropic of Capricorn is the parallel line of latitude that is currently located at 23° 26′ 14.440″.

The winter solstice, which occurs on either December 21 or 22 of each year, marks the day on which the sun shines vertically over this line. On this map, the Tropic of Capricorn is marked with a red line. Arctic and Antarctic Circles The Arctic and Antarctic Circles are the parallels of latitude that are roughly 66.5 degrees (66° 33′ 44″ (or 66.5622°). The region above the Arctic Circle, which includes the North Pole, is known as the Arctic. The region south of the Antarctic Circle, which includes the South Pole, is known as the Antarctic. Map of the world with red lines showing the location of the Arctic and Antarctic circles. Prime Meridian The line of longitude where the degree is zero is known as the Prime Meridian. Passing through the Royal Observatory, Greenwich , England, it is also known as the Greenwich Meridian and divides the earth into two equal halves known as the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. International Date Line The line on earth where one calendar day becomes the next is known as the International Date Line (IDL).

The line is generally found 180 degrees from the Prime Meridian but the line circumvents some regions and islands to avoid dividing contiguous pieces of regions and countries into two separate days. There are 23 one-nour slices an two 30 minutes slices that divide the world up into different time zones. Traveling from east to west over the International Date Line advances the calendar by one day. More: Geography of the International Date Line The black line on this map shows the International Date Line. What is Latitude A key geographical question throughout the human experience has been, "Where am I?" In classical Greece and China , attempts were made to create logical grid systems of the world to answer this question. The ancient Greek geographer Ptolemy created a grid system and listed the coordinates for places throughout the known world. But it wasn't until the Middle Ages that the latitude and longitude system was developed and implemented. This system is written in degrees (ï¿½). Latitude is defined as a measurement of distance in degrees north and south of the equator.

The word latitude is derived from the Latin word, ï¿½latusï¿½, meaning "wide." Each degree of latitude is approximately 69 miles (111 km) apart; there is a variation due to the fact that the earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate ellipsoid (slightly egg-shaped). To remember latitude, imagine them as the horizontal rungs of a ladder ("ladder-tude"). There are 90 degrees of latitude from the equator to each of the north and south poles. Latitude lines are pictured on the globe to the right. Latitude lines are parallel, that is they are the same distance apart. In fact, they are sometimes called parallels. At 7,926 miles (12, 756 km) in length, the equator is the longest of all lines of latitude. It divides the earth in half and is measured as 0ï¿½ (zero degrees). Positions on latitude lines above the equator are called ï¿½northï¿½ and are in the northern hemisphere. Miami Florida , for example, is nearly twenty-five degrees north of the equator. Its approximate latitude is written as 25ï¿½ N.

Positions on latitude lines below the equator are called ï¿½southï¿½. Brisbane Australia , for example, is near the thirty degree latitude line too, but in the southern hemisphere. Its latitude is written as 30ï¿½ S. Complete the Following Practice 1 a. Lines of latitude are ____________________ to the equator. b. There are _________ degrees of latitude north and south of the equator. c. The equator is _____ degrees. d. Another name for latitude lines is _________________ . e. The equator divides the earth into __________ equal parts. Write a definition of latitude. (0ï¿½), the site of the British Royal Greenwich Observatory, was established as the site of the Prime Meridian by an international conference in 1884.. The degrees continue 180ï¿½ east and 180ï¿½ west where they meet and form the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean . The prime meridian, as do all other lines of longitude, passes through ï¿½the North and South Pole. This is shown in the diagrams to the right. Longitude lines are not parallel. They make the earth look like a peeled orange.

There are 180 lines of longitude on the each side of the prime meridian. But on the opposite side, the prime meridian is not zero degrees but 180 ï¿½. Here, it is called the International Date Line. Longitude lines to the left of the prime meridian give locations west, in the western hemisphere. Longitude lines to the right of the prime meridian give locations east, in the eastern hemisphere. Miami Florida , for example, is near the 80 ï¿½ line of longitude. It is west of the prime meridian and is written 80 ï¿½ W. To precisely locate points on the earth's surface, degrees longitude and latitude have been divided into minutes (') and seconds ("). There are 60 minutes in each degree. Each minute is divided into 60 seconds. Seconds can be further divided into tenths, hundredths, or even thousandths. For example, the U.S.

Capitol is located at 38ï¿½53'23"N , 77ï¿½00'27"W (38 degrees, 53 minutes, and 23 seconds north of the equator and 77 degrees, no minutes and 27 seconds west of the meridian passing through Greenwich Complete the Following Practice 2 a. Longitude lines connect the ____________ pole with the ___________ pole. b. The line of 0 ï¿½ C longitude is called the ____________________________ . c. Longitude lines give directions _____________ and ____________ of the prime meridian. d. There are ___________ degrees of longitude each side of the prime meridian. e. Longitude lines are not ________________ like latitude lines. Write a definition of longitude. _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Using Latitude and Longitude To find your exact location on a map, you need to determine which latitude line and which longitude line meet where you are standing. When writing locations, the latitude is given first. Miami , Florida then, has a location of 25 ï¿½ North and 80 ï¿½ West.

This is usually written in a short form as 25 ï¿½ N 80 ï¿½ W. Give the latitude and longitude of the shapes positioned on the grid below. Complete the Following Practice 3 1. What line of latitude divides the earth into the northern and southern hemispheres? 2. What line of longitude divides the earth into the eastern and western hemispheres? 3. Which lines; latitude or longitude are parallel? 4. What is the degree latitude measure for the Tropic of Cancer? 5. What is the degree latitude measure for the Arctic Circle ? Let's describe a specific location using this grid. Refer to the diagram below as you read. Each line of latitude or longitude on the diagram represents 15ï¿½ Choose a point on the map, such as X on the diagram, where a parallel of latitude and a meridian of longitude intersect. Identify the parallel by its number (of degrees) and the meridian by its number (of degrees). In this case, the numbers would be 30ï¿½ and 15ï¿½, where 30ï¿½ is the latitude and 15ï¿½ is the longitude.

Since longitude is measured from the equator, numbers of degrees may be repeated north and south of the equator, so you must also state whether the latitude is north or south of the equator. In this example, 30ï¿½ is north of the equator, so point E is 30ï¿½N latitude. All longitude is measured from the prime meridian, which runs through Greenwich ), England . Numbers of degrees may be repeated east or west of the prime meridian so you must also state whether the longitude is east or west of the prime meridian. In this example, 15ï¿½ is east of the equator, so point X is at 15ï¿½E longitude. Using latitude and longitude, the location of the point is stated as a set of coordinates, which look like this: 30ï¿½N15ï¿½E. The numbers of latitude and longitude, along with the designation of east or west and north or south, are called coordinates; they describe an exact location. Latitude is stated before longitude when writing coordinates. You are accepted for employment at Wichita Park this summer.

While you are thinking about how far away you will be from your friends, you decide to email them, hoping that someone will decide to go with you. In the email, you want to describe the location of the Park. Looking at the map, you see that the park is located between geographic grid lines. How do you identify coordinates for places that are located on a space other than where the parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude intersect? Each parallel of latitude represents a point of the earth's surface defined by its distance north or south of the equator. Each line of longitude represents a point on the earth's surface described by its distance east or west of the prime meridian. That distance is represented by degrees (the numbers you see affiliated with each parallel or meridian). Each degree is subdivided into smaller measurements called minutes. There are 60 minutes in each degree. If Fair City is between one degree and the next, it is described as being at X degrees (Xï¿½) and Y minutes (Y'). X is the last full degree before the location, and Y is the number of minutes the place is located past the last full degree).

If a point is halfway between degrees, the point is described as being at 30 minutes. Coordinates that include minutes are written as 30ï¿½30'N30ï¿½30'W. Summary: To locate a place on the map, or to assign major features to a map, you need to know about the world-wide geographic grid system. Parallels of latitude are lines that circle the globe in an eastï¿½west direction, parallel to the equator. These lines never converge. Meridians of longitude are lines that run from pole to pole, in a northï¿½south direction. These lines converge at the poles. The prime meridian is the reference line for meridians of longitude. Intersection of the latitudinal and longitudinal lines creates the grid system. The points of intersection on the grids are identified by measurements of degrees. The measurements of latitude and longitude, along with the designation of east or west and north or south, are called coordinates and describe an exact location. Latitude is stated before longitude when writing coordinates. Unit #1 Assignment 1 - Mapping Canada World Geography Glossary World Geography Glossary latitude lines Imaginary lines running horizontally around the globe.

Also called parallels, latitude lines are equidistant from each other. Each degree of latitude is about 69 miles (110 km) apart. Zero degrees (0°) latitude is the equator, the widest circumference of the globe. Latitude is measured from 0° to 90° north and 0° to 90° south—90° north is the North Pole and 90° south is the South Pole. longitude lines Imaginary lines, also called meridians, running vertically around the globe. Unlike latitude lines, longitude lines are not parallel. Meridians meet at the poles and are widest apart at the equator. Zero degrees longitude (0°) is called the prime meridian. The degrees of longitude run 180° east and 180° west from the prime meridian. geographic coordinates Latitude and longitude lines form an imaginary grid over the Earth's surface. By combining longitude and latitude measurements, any location on earth can be determined. The units of measurement for geographic coordinates are degrees (°), minutes ('), and seconds ("). Like a circle, the Earth has 360 degrees.

Each degree is divided into 60 minutes, which in turn is divided into 60 seconds. Latitude and longitude coordinates also include cardinal directions: north or south of the equator for latitude, and east or west of the prime meridian for longitude. The geographic coordinates of New York City, for example, are 40° N, 74° W, meaning that it is located 40 degrees north latitude and 74 degrees west longitude. Using minutes and seconds as well as degrees, the coordinates for New York would be 40°42'51" N, 74°0'23" W. (Latitude is always listed first.) A less common format for listing coordinates is in decimal degrees. The Tropic of Cancer, for example, can be expressed in degrees and minutes (23°30' N) or in decimal degrees (23.5° N). Theory that the earth's continents at one time were once part of a singular landmass. It is believed that the continents have spread out due to plate tectonics. hemisphere A hemisphere is half the Earth's surface.

The four hemispheres are the Northern and Southern hemispheres, divided by the equator (0° latitude), and the Eastern and Western hemispheres, divided by the prime meridian (0° longitude) and the International Date Line (180°). equator Zero degrees latitude. The Sun is directly overhead the equator at noon on the two equinoxes (March and Sept. 20 or 21). The equator divides the globe into the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The equator appears halfway between the North and South poles, at the widest circumference of the globe. It is 24,901.55 miles (40,075.16 km) long. prime meridian Zero degrees longitude (0°). The prime meridian runs through the Royal Greenwich Observatory in Greenwich, England (the location was established in 1884 by international agreement). The prime meridian divides the globe into the Western and Eastern hemispheres. The Earth's time zones are measured from the prime meridian. The time at 0° is called Universal Time (UT) or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

With the Greenwich meridian as the starting point, each 15° east and west marks a new time zone. The 24 time zones extend east and west around the globe for 180° to the International Date Line. When it is noon along the prime meridian, it is midnight along the International Date Line. International Date Line Located at 180° longitude (180° E and 180° W are the same meridian). Regions to the east of the International Date Line are counted as being one calendar day earlier than the regions to the west. Although the International Date Line generally follows the 180° meridian (most of which lies in the Pacific Ocean), it does diverge in places. Since 180° runs through several countries, it would divide those countries not simply into two different time zones, but into two different calendar days. To avoid such unnecessary confusion, the date line dips and bends around countries to permit them to share the same time. tropics Also referred to as the torrid zone or tropical zone, all the water and land of the earth between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

The tropics experience at least one day per year in which the sun passes directly overhead. Tropic of Cancer A line of latitude located at 23°30' north of the equator. The Sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer on the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (June 20 or 21). It marks the northernmost point of the tropics, which falls between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. A directional device that is made of a magnetic needle that synchronizes with the north and south poles. climate maps Give general information about the climate and precipitation (rain and snow) of a region. Cartographers, or mapmakers, use colors to show different climate or precipitation zones. economic or resource maps Feature the type of natural resources or economic activity that dominates an area. Cartographers use symbols to show the locations of natural resources or economic activities. For example, oranges on a map of Florida tell you that oranges are grown there. physical maps Illustrate the physical features of an area, such as the mountains, rivers and lakes. The water is usually shown in blue. Colors are used to show relief-differences in land elevations.

Green is typically used at lower elevations, and orange or brown indicate higher elevations. political maps Do not show physical features. Instead, they indicate state and national boundaries and capital and major cities. A capital city is usually marked with a star within a circle. road maps Show major-some minor highways-and roads, airports, railroad tracks, cities and other points of interest in an area. People use road maps to plan trips and for driving directions. topographic maps Include contour lines to show the shape and elevation of an area. Lines that are close together indicate steep terrain, and lines that are far apart indicate flat terrain. map projections Two-dimensional representations of the three-dimensional Earth. Because projections attempt to present the spherical Earth on a flat plane, they inevitably produce distortions. Map projections are numerous and complex (e.g., there are a variety of cylindrical, conic, or azimuthal projections). Each projection has advantages and serves different purposes, and each produces different types of distortions in direction, distance, shape, and relative size of areas. One of the most famous projections is the Mercator, created by Geradus Mercator in 1569.

It is a rectangular-shaped map in which all longitude and latitude lines are parallel and intersect at right angles (on a globe, meridians are not parallel, but grow narrower, eventually converging at the poles). Near the equator, the scale of the Mercator is accurate, but the farther one moves toward the poles, the greater the distortion—Antarctica in the far south and Greenland in the far north, for example, appear gigantic. The Mercator projection was used well into the 20th century, but has now been superseded by others, including the widely used Robinson projection. The Robinson projection is an elliptical-shaped map with a flat top and bottom. Developed in 1963 by Arthur H. Robinson, it is an orthophanic (“right appearing”) projection, which attempts to reflect the spherical appearance of the Earth. The meridians, for example, are curved arcs, which gives the flat map a three-dimensional appearance. But to convey the likeness of a curved, three-dimensional globe, the Robinson projection must in fact distort shape, area, scale, and distance. The Albers, Lambert, Mollweide, and Winkel Tripel are some of the other commonly used map projections.

What is Latitude? - Definition, Calculation & Examples - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com What is Latitude? - Definition, Calculation & Examples Watch short & fun videos Start Your Free Trial Today An error occurred trying to load this video. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. You must create an account to continue watching Register for a free trial Are you a student or a teacher? I am a student Start Your Free Trial To Continue Watching As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed. Coming up next: Where Is the Redwood Forest? - Location, Facts & History You're on a roll. Keep up the good work! Your next lesson will play in 10 seconds 0:01 Definition of Latitude Add to Add to Add to Want to watch this again later? Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. Custom Courses are courses that you create from Study.com lessons. Use them just like other courses to track progress, access quizzes and exams, and share content. Teachers Organize and share selected lessons with your class. Make planning easier by creating your own custom course.

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He has a Masters in Education, and a Bachelors in Physics. In this lesson, you will learn what latitude is and the general principles behind how it can be calculated. You'll also be provided with some examples of latitudes around the world. A short quiz will follow. Definition of Latitude People have known the Earth was round for a long time, far earlier than Christopher Columbus. Perhaps everyday people did not know the shape of the Earth, but the navigators aboard tall ships certainly did. Without this knowledge navigation would have been impossible, and every ship would have gotten lost. Part of the reason for this is the effect of latitude. Latitude and longitude are two coordinates that, together, tell you exactly where you are on the Earth. Latitude tells you where you are between the North Pole and the South Pole. The equator is zero degrees, the North Pole is 90 degrees North, and the South Pole is 90 degrees South, and in between is in between. Parallels, otherwise known as latitude lines, are lines that run across the Earth from east to west at a constant latitude. Everywhere on a parallel must have the same latitude. An example would be the equator, which is at zero degrees of latitude.

Other important parallels include the Tropic of Cancer (at 23.4 degrees North), the Tropic of Capricorn (at 23.4 degrees South), the Arctic Circle (at 66.5 at degrees North), and the Antarctic Circle (at 66.5 degrees South). And here are a few other examples: Houston, Texas is at 30 degrees North; whereas Manchester, England is 53.4 degrees North; and Oulu, Finland is 60 degrees North. Wellington, New Zealand, on the other hand, is 41 degrees South. Latitude is important for navigation because the path of the sun is different depending on your latitude. It also varies based on the time of year, so the whole thing is very complicated! Navigators would have had to really know what they were doing to navigate by the sun and the stars. Calculation of Latitude The full calculation of latitude is quite involved, so we'll go through some of the basic principles. Let's say that today is the equinox, meaning that day and night are exactly the same length.

Another way of putting it is that the equator points directly at the sun - the Earth isn't tilting towards or away from the sun. If you live at the equator, the sun will pass directly overhead on this day. It will rise in the East and set in the West, and be overhead in the middle of the day. If you live south of the equator, it will arch across the Northern sky, still rising in the East and setting in the West - its path is just an arc to the north. If you live north of the equator, it will arc across the Southern sky, though still rising in the East and setting in the West - its path is just an arc to the south. This makes sense because if it's directly overhead at the equator, and the equator is to your south, you should see the sun off to the south. But, how far south? This is where latitude comes in. At the equator (zero degrees latitude) the sun is directly overhead in the middle of the day, and at the North Pole (90 degrees latitude) the sun would be right on the horizon to the south. So, it follows that your latitude tells you the angle of the sun in the sky.

Houston, Texas has a latitude of approximately 30 degrees North. At the equator (zero degrees) the sun is directly overhead, so in Houston, the sun must be 30 degrees below being directly overhead. Or, in other words, it's 60 degrees above the Southern horizon (90 - 30 = 60). ×

Question: What is the name of the line of latitude that is approximately 23 degrees 30 minutes North?
Answer: Tropic of Cancer