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We are aware of the fact that each house has its location and address, for example, the city, the house number, the street’s name etc. In the same way, every single point on the earth’s surface has its respective coordinates defined by the terms ‘latitude and longitude’. Hence by the coordinates of latitude and longitude, one can virtually locate any point on the surface of the earth. Following insights into what latitude and longitude are further described.
WHAT IS LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE?
LATITUDE MEANING
The symbolic representation of latitude is denoted by ‘phi’. Latitude meaning indicates the angle made between the equatorial plane and the straight line at a specific point. We use degrees to specify the latitude that begins from 0° (at the point of the equator) and ends up at 90° ranging to either side of the equator (North or south zone at the poles). This marks the distribution of Northern and Southern latitudes.
In context with the Equator, it is a line with coordinates of 0° latitude.
The geographical latitude meaning can be described as the coordinates that specify the south-north location of any point present on the surface of the earth.
Parallels or colloquially known as Lines of constant latitude run in circles from east-west going parallel to the equator. The measurement is of 180 imaginary lines. The precise coordinates and location can be obtained by both latitudes along with Longitude to specify points on the surface of the Earth.
The terminology latitude can be considered to be the geodetic latitude. Describing the geodetic latitude, it is the angle made by the vector normal/ perpendicular to the equatorial plane and the ellipsoid shaped surface considered from that point. The six auxiliary latitudes find their roles in special applications.
The term ‘circle of latitude’ means an imaginary ring that is a link to all the points sharing a parallel.
As the poles are named, the circles of latitude are also named. For instance, The Tropic of Cancer. It is 23 degrees 26 minutes 21 seconds N (symbolically described as 23° 26′ 21” N). Its other counterpart, its twin known as the Tropic of Capricorn, is 23 degrees 26 minutes 21 seconds S (symbolically described as 23° 26′ 21” S).
The tropics are significant geographic sites that give locations of the southernmost and the northernmost latitudes. On these sites, the sun is present overhead during the period of a solstice.
LONGITUDE
The symbolic representation of longitude is denoted by lambda. As latitude, it is another coordinate defined by angles measuring the location of a point on the Earth’s surface.
By definition, the longitude is an angle made directing toward the east or west concerning the Greenwich Meridian. The Greenwich Meridian is considered the Prime Meridian.
Furthermore, the longitude can range from a maximum i.e. 180° east taken from the Prime Meridian and 180° west taken from the Prime Meridian.
The measurements of coordinates can be taken in degrees for both latitude and longitude which are further segmented into minutes and seconds. Considering an example, the limits of 23°26’13.7” S and 23°26’13.7” give coordinates of southwards located tropical zones from the equator and to the northwards located tropical zones from the Equator, determined by S and N. Another example of the mount Ngauruhoe located in New Zealand has geographical coordinates of 175°37’55.8”E 39°09’24.6”S.
For thousands of years, Navigators and mariners used to measure the coordinates of latitude with basic equipment and tools. However, measuring longitudes require more advanced calculations.
GPS TO MAPS
The expanded form of the term GPS is the global positioning system. By the seconds of latitude, the GPS devices (global positioning system devices) can help mark and locate houses, schools, houses, even rooms in either the cities or towns.
The radio navigation system based on Satellite is the Global Positioning System (GPS), originally known as Navstar GPS. It is owned by the Government of the United States (US). The global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) has the following significance:
- Gives geolocation
- Time-based data and information to any GPS user near/on the Earth.
- Problems or topographical hurdles like buildings, mountains can block the GPS signals that are weakened.
CONCLUSION
For instance, each house has its location and address, for example, the city, the house number, the street’s name etc. In the same way, every single point on the earth’s surface has its respective coordinates defined by the terms ‘latitude and longitude’. The latitude meaning indicates coordinates that specify the south-north location of any point present on the surface of the earth. The symbolic representation of longitude is denoted by lambda. As latitude, the longitude is another coordinate defined by angles measuring the location of a point on the Earth’s surface.
