Latitudes and Longitudes : Defining Earth’s Topographic Features

Introduction: As one might know, the Earth’s Topography changes every 5 degrees. Topography is mainly the detailed study of the earth’s form, texture, and features. The topography of an area is denoted by the soil quality, texture, water-absorbing tendency, and many more.

Topography is the branch of science that mainly uses geoscience and climate conditions to determine the soil texture and form. In the modern era, topography is a main defining feature of developing advancements in the field of agriculture. Geomorphometry is the geoscience that is used to study landform quality and its acknowledgment.

Every landform has a different type of depiction in the maps to enhance the detailed study. This depiction includes various types of representations namely hypsometric tints, relief shading, and contour lines.

What is a Mean Longitude?

Mean longitude is a type of longitude in which a rotating body can be obtained if the circulation orbits are spherical and are free from any type of perturbations. Mean longitude is measured in an elliptical shape. On the other hand, a common longitude is a physical quantity that displays a certain physical angle.

What is longitude?

Longitude is an imaginary line that is drawn perpendicular ranging between north and south. Longitude is often used to define the coordinates of a point on the map using the directions east and west. The longitude lines arise from one pole to another pole, say from the north pole to the south pole. These longitude lines intersect the equator at a perpendicular angle. Meanwhile, looking from the geometrical angle, these longitude lines are exactly half of the earth’s circumference.

How many longitudes are there?

Many of you might have the question of how many longitudes are there on the surface of the earth. For the complete angle of 360 degrees, the total number of longitudes is 360. While looking from a 0-degree longitude line, there are a total of 180 longitudes toward the east and 180 longitudes towards the west. The longitude of zero degrees is technically termed the prime meridian. This prime meridian divides the earth into two prominent hemispheres namely the Eastern and Western hemispheres.

While keeping in mind the geographic technicalities, moving towards the east, the direction is denoted by a positive sign(+). For example, as we move 15 degrees east, we must write +15 degrees. Whereas, moving towards the west, the direction is denoted by a negative sign(-). For example, as we move 10 degrees west, we must write -15 degrees.

What is Latitude?

Latitude may be defined as the imaginary lines drawn on the earth’s surface present in the east-west direction. Or we can say these lines are horizontal lines emerging from the east and ending in the west direction. The latitude line which is placed at zero degrees is commonly known as the equator. Also, these lines are mainly used to notify the north and south detection.

The equator is often called the origin or the base for proper innovation of the north and south.

Moreover, 0-degree latitude is at the equator, and the more you move towards the pole the degrees increase gradually. Furthermore, the degrees at the north pole and south pole end at 90 degrees. Furthermore, the earth is divided into two hemispheres based on their direction concerning the equator. These hemispheres are the North hemisphere and southern hemisphere.

Geographical location Using Lat Long

The geographical location of any point on the surface of the earth is denoted by only two entities namely longitude and latitude. This denotation is commonly known as lat long which is a combination of longitude and latitude. As we know that to denote a point on the graph, we used to tell x and y coordinates. Similarly, to denote a point on the earth’s surface, we provide latitude and longitude in the form of a DMS system. The DMS system contains 3 components: degrees, minutes, and seconds. For example, the latlong of New Delhi is 28° 38′ 41.2800” N and 77° 13′ 0.1956” E.

Objectives of Topography

The important objective of topography is segregated below. Let’s understand them in detail.

• Firstly, the primary objective is to locate the area using lat long, mean latitude, landform, and altitude.
• Secondly, categorizing the land type depends on their environmental conditions such as annual rainfall, humidity, soil texture, and other properties.
• Topography helps to study the terrain pattern for agriculture, mineral, and ore extraction.

Conclusion

In the modern-day scenario, topographic mapping is of high value since it is the basis for defining the land and suitable crops. These mapping with the help of contouring lines are beneficial in locating the forest cover, waterbody, industrial area, and many more.

To study the topographic map, one must know longitude and latitude. According to the division of latitude, five major latitudes have been marked for holographic study. These latitudes are the Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, and the Antarctic Circle. The equator is marked as a complete and longest circle and approximately equal to the earth’s circumference. Whereas the Arctic circle and the Antarctic circle are the smallest ones.