Latitude:
- Latitude is a geographic coordinate that measures the distance north or south of the Equator.
- It is expressed in degrees and ranges from 0° at the Equator to 90° at the North and South Poles.
- Lines of latitude, also known as parallels, are circles that run parallel to the Equator.
- The Equator is the reference point for measuring latitude and is designated as 0° latitude.
- As one moves north from the Equator, the latitude increases, and as one moves south, the latitude decreases.
- Latitude is used to determine the climatic zones on Earth, such as the tropics, temperate zones, and polar regions.
Longitude:
- Longitude is a geographic coordinate that measures the distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
- It is also expressed in degrees and ranges from 0° at the Prime Meridian to 180° east or west.
- Lines of longitude, also known as meridians, are semi-circles that converge at the poles.
- The Prime Meridian, located in Greenwich, London, is the reference point for measuring longitude and is designated as 0° longitude.
- Longitude is used to determine time zones around the world, with each 15° of longitude roughly corresponding to one hour of time difference.
- By knowing the longitude of a specific location, it is possible to determine the time difference between that location and the Prime Meridian.
Coordinate System:
- Latitude and longitude together form a coordinate system that enables the precise location of any point on Earth's surface.
- Coordinates are typically given in the format of degrees (°), minutes ('), and seconds (").
- For example, the coordinates for New York City are approximately 40° 43' N latitude and 74° 0' W longitude.
- The intersection of a specific latitude and longitude represents a unique location on Earth's surface.
- Global positioning systems (GPS) and maps use latitude and longitude coordinates to provide accurate location information.
In summary, latitude measures north-south position, with the Equator as the reference point, while longitude measures east-west position, with the Prime Meridian as the reference point. Together, latitude and longitude provide a precise method for locating any point on the Earth's surface.
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