Latitude and Longitude

Earth is divided into various geographical sections. In some places we have water and in some places we have land. But the locations and positions of places on land and water are difficult to determine. This is where the use of latitude and longitude comes into being. Before the invention of these imaginary lines, it was an impossible task to determine the position and time zone in an area on Earth. Latitude refers to the geographic coordinates that determine the distance on the globe from the north-south of the equator. On the other hand, longitude refers to the imaginary line that determines the distance on the globe from east-west of the Prime Meridian. 

Latitude

Latitude pertains to the horizontal imaginary lines running from east to west, which represents the distance of points, north and south of the equator. Also known by the name parallels, it is expressed through an angle that ranges from about 0° to 90°, an angle formed between poles and equator. 

When used with the longitude, the coordinates formed help us point out the exact locations on the globe. Apart from the degrees (°), the latitudes can also be assessed and calculated in minutes and seconds, which moves to either north or the south of the equator.  

The Equator is an imaginary latitude formed on the earth which divides our globe into two equal parts where the north one is known as the Northern Hemisphere and the south one is known as the Southern Hemisphere. All the latitudes are parallel to the equator and every other latitude, forming a 90° angle between the poles and equator. 

Longitude

Longitude is a vertical imaginary line that moves from north to south direction and is present on the east-west side of the Prime Meridian, used to calculate distance between two points. In this case, the angle formed between various longitudinal lines is between 0° to 180° (either positive or negative). 

Also known as meridians, these lines along with the latitudes can form coordinates and pinpoint numerous whereabouts on the surface of the Earth. Usually, the vertical imaginary line is expressed in degrees where we use eastward or westward, in addition to minutes and seconds used in the case of the latitudes. 

The meridians move from north to south pole. As the longitude moves towards the poles, the distance between the nearby longitude decreases and they all can meet at the poles. The length of the different latitudes is not the same, but in this case, various longitudes have the same length. 

Interestingly, we have the Greenwich Mean Time Meridian (GMT) that is contemplated as the reference one to all the other longitudes. Thus, due to this, the earth gets divided into two halves, where one is the Eastern Hemisphere and the other one is known as the Western Hemisphere. 

Difference between Latitude and Longitude

Definition

Latitude pertains to the horizontal imaginary lines running from east to west, which represents the distance of points, north and south of the equator. Longitude is a vertical imaginary line that moves from north to south and is present on the east-west side of the Prime Meridian, used to calculate distance between two points.

Denoted by Greek Letters 

For the case of longitudes, they are represented by a Greek Letter, known as a ‘lambda’. On the other hand, the latitudes are exemplified by the Greek Letter ‘phi’. 

Running Direction

Latitudes run from the east to the west direction. On the other hand, there are imaginary lines that run from north to south (longitude). 

Parallel to each other 

The lines of latitude are parallel to each other and never intersect. On the other hand, the horizontal imaginary lines are not parallel to each other and they intersect each other at the north and south poles. 

Other names 

Latitudes are known by the name of parallels that are present in the north-south direction of the Equator. In the other cases of longitudes, the meridians are present in the east-west direction of the Prime Meridian. 

The central line of Reference

Latitudes use the equator as the line of reference for all the points. On the other hand, longitudes use prime meridians as their reference points. 

Ranges of imaginary lines

Latitudes are expressed through an angle that ranges from about 0° to 90°, an angle formed between poles and equator. On the other hand, the angle formed between various longitudinal lines is between 0° to 180° (either positive or negative). 

Value of the lines 

The latitudinal lines increase as one moves from the equator to the poles, whereas the longitudinal lines increase as one move in the eastward direction from the Greenwich Meridian. 

Conclusion

Latitude refers to the geographic coordinates that determine the distance on the globe from the north-south of the equator. On the other hand, longitude refers to the imaginary line that determines the distance on the globe from east-west of the Prime Meridian. 

The latitudes and longitude help in categorising temperature zones and classifying time zones at the global level respectively. Both of these are correlated as one cannot pinpoint places on the map without the other. These geographical coordinates help in easily determining the position of the locations on the globe.