The earth is divided up into latitude lines on either side of the equator, called parallels. These parallels run horizontally around the earth, parallel to the equator. Learn the definition of longitude. Longitude is a measure of distance east or west of an imaginary vertical line that runs down the outside of the globe from the North Pole to the South Pole, called the prime meridian. Longitude lines are a series of vertical lines from North Pole to the South Pole, also called meridians because every place touched by the same meridian have midday at the same time.
There are meridians on either side of the prime meridian, with of them located east of the prime meridian, and the other located to the west of it. Examine the units of measurement used for latitude and longitude. To produce even more accurate measurements, each degree can be further divided up into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds for a total of 3, seconds per degree.
While the distance between degrees of latitude is constant 60 nautical miles or Measure latitude and longitude relative to the 0 point.
Every measure of latitude or longitude is expressed in terms of how far it is from the origin point in either direction. Part 2. Find a map with latitude and longitude lines. Not all maps indicate latitude and longitude. You are most likely to find them on maps of large areas, such as atlas maps, or on smaller maps that are designed to reflect the terrain extremely accurately, such as topographic maps. Pinpoint the location you are interested in.
Take look at the map, and locate the feature or area for which you would like to know the coordinates. Mark the exact spot you are interested in with a pin or a pencil mark. Locate the latitude and longitude markers. Latitude is indicated on a map by a series of evenly-spaced horizontal lines running from one side of the map to the other, while longitude is indicated by a series of evenly-spaced vertical lines running from top to bottom.
Look for numbers along the edges of the map giving coordinates for each line. Longitude graticules are marked on the north and south edges. Depending on the scale of your map, the graticules may mark fractions of degrees rather than whole degrees. For instance, there may be a Graticule marked at every minute within a degree instead of every degree e. The map should also indicate where the latitude and longitude depicted are relative to the equator and prime meridian, respectively e.
Take care not to confuse the latitude and longitude lines with UTM lines , another type of grid coordinate system often found on maps. UTM numbers are usually marked in a smaller text and without degree symbols along the edges of the map, and UTM gridlines may be marked in a different color from latitude and longitude lines.
Use a ruler to mark the latitude of your point. Take a ruler and a pencil and mark a level horizontal line from your point to the nearest east or west edge of the map. Make sure your line is parallel to the nearest latitude line on the map. Draw another line to mark the longitude of the point. Starting from the same point, use the ruler and pencil to draw a straight vertical line to the nearest north or south edge of the map.
Make sure your line is parallel to the closest longitude line. Estimate the latitude and longitude of your point using the graticules. Depending on the scale of the map, you may be able to estimate the coordinates of your point down to the second.
Look at where your latitude and longitude lines intersect the coordinate lines on the edge of the map, and estimate the coordinates by their position relative to the closest graticules.
If your map shows seconds, find the second closest to where each line intersects the latitude or longitude scale at the edge of the map. If your map shows minutes, but not seconds, then you can estimate your latitude or longitude to within 6 seconds by dividing the space between each graticule into 10ths. Put your measurements together to determine the coordinates.
Geographic coordinates are the place where the latitude and longitude lines converge on a single point. Look at the numbers you got for the latitude and longitude of your point, and put them together e.
You may see these types of coordinates labeled as DMS latitude and longitude, with DMS standing for degrees, minutes, seconds. This notation distinguishes the degree-minute-second system from a separate notation system that represents coordinates in decimal form. To read it, start with the first set of numbers, or the latitude. That line reads, 41 degrees, 56 minutes, The longitude reads as 87 degrees, 39 minutes, If you look at a globe marked with the longitudinal and latitudinal degrees, it will be easy to pinpoint exactly where Wrigley Field is located based solely on its coordinates.
Rachelle Dragani is a freelance writer based in Brooklyn with extensive experience covering the latest innovation and development in the world of science. Updated June 12, What Is the Equator's Latitude? How to Understand Latitude and Longitude.
How to Convert Eastings and Northings. What Are Parallels on Maps? Latitude lines are a numerical way to measure how far north or south of the equator a place is located. The equator is the starting point for measuring latitude--that's why it's marked as 0 degrees latitude. The number of latitude degrees will be larger the further away from the equator the place is located, all the way up to 90 degrees latitude at the poles.
Longitude Vertical mapping lines on Earth are lines of longitude, known as "meridians". One simple way to visualize this might be to think about having hula hoops cut in half, vertically positioned with one end at the North Pole and the other at the South Pole. Visualize hula hoops cut in half, vertically positioned with one end at the North Pole and the other at the South Pole. As the vertical starting point for longitude, the Prime Meridian is numbered 0 degrees longitude. The degree line is a single vertical line called the International Date Line, and it is directly opposite of the Prime Meridian.
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