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Latitude

In cartography, latitude refers to the angular distance of a point north or south of the Equator. It is measured in degrees (°) from 0° at the Equator to 90° at the poles (90° North at the North Pole and 90° South at the South Pole).

Basic

Introduction

Key Characteristics of Latitude:

  1. Parallel Lines – Latitude lines (also called parallels) run east to west but measure distances north or south of the Equator.
  2. Degrees and Minutes – Latitude is expressed in degrees (°), minutes ('), and seconds (").
  3. Fixed Reference Points:
    • Equator (0° Latitude) – The central reference line that divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
    • Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N) – The northernmost point where the sun is directly overhead.
    • Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S) – The southernmost point where the sun is directly overhead.
    • Arctic Circle (66.5° N) – The southern boundary of the North Polar region.
    • Antarctic Circle (66.5° S) – The northern boundary of the South Polar region.
    • Poles (90° N & 90° S) – The extreme northern and southern points on Earth.

Explanation

Importance of Latitude in Cartography:

  • Climate Zones – Latitude helps define climate regions (e.g., tropical, temperate, and polar).
  • Navigation and Positioning – Latitude coordinates are used in GPS and geographic location identification.
  • Map Projections – Latitude lines influence how maps are designed, particularly in cylindrical and conic projections.

Examples

Latitude and Coordinate Systems:

  • Latitude is often paired with longitude (which measures east-west position) to define precise geographic coordinates in a geodetic system (e.g., WGS84, used in GPS).
  • Expressed in Decimal Degrees (e.g., 37.7749° N) or Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds (DMS) (e.g., 37°46'30" N).

Outgoing relations