This document discusses geographic coordinates and how they are used to locate positions on Earth. It explains that parallels of latitude run parallel to the equator, dividing the planet into northern and southern hemispheres. Meridians of longitude run from the North Pole to the South Pole, dividing Earth into eastern and western hemispheres. To determine a point's precise location, its latitude (its distance north or south from the equator) and longitude (its distance east or west from the prime meridian) are identified. Where the line of latitude and longitude intersect is the absolute location on Earth's surface. Together, the grid of parallels and meridians forms coordinates that allow distances and positions to be precisely calculated globally.
2. The Geographic Coordinates
Imaginary lines have
been created to help us:
Calculating the
distance between two
points on the Earth’s
surface.
Determining the exact
position of a person, a
place or a thing on the
Earth’s surface.
This lines are the
parallels and the
meridians. They cross
each other to form an
imaginary grid or network
on the Earth’s surface.
Meridians
Parallels
3.
Imaginary lines
parallel to the
Equator that circle
the Earth.
The Equator is at 0º
(zero degrees). It
circles the Earth on
its widest part.
The Equator divides
the Earth in two
equal halves or
hemispheres:
Northern Hemisphere
and Southern
Hemisphere.
4.
5.
Imaginary lines that
run from the North
Pole to the South
Pole.
The Prime Meridian
or Greenwich
Meridian is at 0º
(zero degrees).
The Greenwich
Meridian divides the
Earth in two halves
or hemispheres:
Western Hemisphere
and Eastern
Hemisphere.
6.
To locate a point on the surface of the Earth
we need to establish its latitude (parallel)
and its longitude (meridian).
Latitude: it is the distance between a point
on the Earth’s surface and the Equator or
parallel 0º. Latitud can be North (N) or South
(S).
Longitude: it is the distance between a
point on the Earth’s surface and the Prime
Meridian or Greenwich Meridian. It can be
East (E) or West (W).
7.
8.
The Earth’s
circumference is
360º.
So, we have 90º
between the Equator
an each Pole.
Each latitude degree
corresponds to a
parallel. From the
Equator we have 90
parallels N and 90
parallels S.
9.
The Earth’s
circumference is
360º.
So, from the
Greenwich Meridian
or Meridian 0º we
have 180 meridians
E and 180
meridians W.
Each longitude
degree corresponds
to a meridian.
11. Go to the Equator and determine wich
direction you must go (North or South).
Determine the distance in degrees you
must go. You have got the Latitude.
Go to the Prime Meridian. Determine
which direction you must go (East or
West). Determine the distance in degrees
you must go. You have got the
Longitude.
Find the intersection of both latitude and
longitude and you have found the
absolute or exact location of a
particular place on the Earth’s surface.
