Latitude and LongitudeLatitude and Longitude

Every single location on Earth is Every single location on Earth is described by 2 numbers: described by 2 numbers: LatitudeLatitude and and LongitudeLongitude..

Latitude and longitude are a type ofLatitude and longitude are a type of coordinate systemcoordinate system

LatitudeLatitude

Definition: Latitude measures the Definition: Latitude measures the distance in degreesdistance in degrees NORTHNORTH and and SOUTHSOUTH of theof the EQUATOR.EQUATOR.

Latitude lines are horizontal. They Latitude lines are horizontal. They look like this: look like this:

Because they run parallel to the Because they run parallel to the EQUATOREQUATOR, they are also called , they are also called parallelsparallels. . ALL ALL parallels are parallels are 360º360º circles!circles!

The EquatorThe Equator

The The EquatorEquator is the imaginary is the imaginary circlecircle found at 0º found at 0º LatitudeLatitude- it “splits” the - it “splits” the Earth exactly in half, leaving a Earth exactly in half, leaving a Northern half and a southern half.Northern half and a southern half.

Latitude ValuesLatitude Values

Each line of latitude north of that Each line of latitude north of that gets higher until you get to gets higher until you get to 90° N90° N. . That is the That is the North PoleNorth Pole..

Each line of latitude south of the Each line of latitude south of the equator gets higher until you get to equator gets higher until you get to 90° S90° S. That’s the . That’s the South PoleSouth Pole..

Special Latitude LinesSpecial Latitude Lines

1. 1. Tropic of CancerTropic of Cancer - found at 23 ½º North of - found at 23 ½º North of

the Equator.the Equator.

2. 2. Tropic of CapricornTropic of Capricorn – found at 23 ½ º South – found at 23 ½ º South

of the Equator.of the Equator.

3. 3. Artic CircleArtic Circle – 66 ½ – 66 ½ ° North Latitude° North Latitude

4. 4. Antarctic CircleAntarctic Circle – 66 ½ ° South Latitude – 66 ½ ° South Latitude

Ants on the ground, get it antactic its in the south

66.5

Where is Polaris??Where is Polaris??

http://ecuip.lib.uchicago.edu/diglib/science/cultural_astronomy/interactives/polaris/polaris.swf

The angle of the North The angle of the North StarStar, also known as , also known as PolarisPolaris, , EQUALSEQUALS the the NORTH NORTH LatitudeLatitude you are at. you are at.

How can I find Polaris in the sky?

Lets take a bike ride and see what Lets take a bike ride and see what happen.happen.

http://www.onr.navy.mil/focus/spacesciences/animation/observingsky/kid.swf

LongitudeLongitude

DefinitionDefinition: : Longitude linesLongitude lines measure measure the distance in degrees the distance in degrees EASTEAST and and WESTWEST of the of the PRIME MERIDIANPRIME MERIDIAN..

Longitude lines are vertical. They Longitude lines are vertical. They look like this:look like this:

These lines are also known as These lines are also known as MeridiansMeridians..

The Prime MeridianThe Prime Meridian

The Prime Meridian is a The Prime Meridian is a HALFHALF circle circle that runs from the that runs from the North poleNorth pole to the to the SouthSouth polepole..

It is also 0° however it is 0° It is also 0° however it is 0° longitudelongitude. It does . It does NOTNOT run all the run all the way around the Earth. The line on way around the Earth. The line on the other side is the other side is 180°.180°.

The Prime MeridianThe Prime Meridian

The Prime Meridian divides the Earth The Prime Meridian divides the Earth into a west half into a west half (western (western hemisphere)hemisphere) and an east half and an east half (eastern hemisphere).(eastern hemisphere).

The 180° line is known as the The 180° line is known as the international date line.international date line.

Now please start or continue Now please start or continue working on your review book working on your review book assignment. We will do time assignment. We will do time zones as a class together.zones as a class together.