Latitude, Longitude and Time

Latitude, Longitude, and Time

The Earth is approximately spherical, although it’s not a perfect sphere due to differences in its equatorial and polar radii. Rotation on its axis causes bulging at the equator, giving it the shape of an oblate spheroid. This shape poses challenges in positioning surface features, so a network of imaginary lines is used to locate points....

Parallels of Latitudes

1. Definition of Latitude: Latitude is the north-south position of a point on the Earth’s surface. It is measured in degrees north or south of the Equator, the imaginary line dividing the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres....

Meridians of Longitude

1. Definition of Longitude: Longitude is the east-west position of a point on the Earth’s surface. It is measured in degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian, an imaginary line that passes through Greenwich, England....

Longitude and Time

We are all aware that the Earth rotates from west to east on its axis, causing the sun to rise in the east and set in the west. This rotation takes approximately 24 hours to complete a full circle or 360° of longitudes. Since there are 180° of longitudes both east and west of the Prime Meridian, the sun requires 12 hours to traverse each hemisphere. Therefore, the sun moves across 150° of longitudes per hour or one degree of longitude every four minutes....

Parallels of Latitude vs Meridians of Longitude

S. No. Parallels of Latitude Meridians of Longitude 1. Latitude is the angular distance of a point north or south of the equator, measured in degrees. Longitude is the angular distance along the equator measured in degrees. It is measured east or west of Greenwich (0°), from 0° to 180°. 2. All latitudes are parallel to the equator. All meridians of longitude converge at the poles. 3. On a globe, parallels of latitudes appear as circles. All meridians of longitude appear as circles running through the poles. 4. The distance between two latitudes is approximately 111 km. Maximum at the equator (111.3 km) and minimum at the poles (0 km). Midway, at 45° of latitude, it is 79 km. The distance between two longitudes varies. It is maximum at the equator and decreases towards the poles. 5. The 0° latitude is referred to as the equator, and the 90° latitude as the poles. There are 360° of longitude, 180° each in the east and west of the Prime Meridian. 6. The latitudes from the equator to the poles are used to demarcate temperature zones: 0° to 23 ½° north and south as the torrid zone, 23 ½° to 66 ½° as the temperate zone, and 66 ½° to 90° as the frigid zone. The longitudes are used to determine local time with reference to the time at the Prime Meridian....

International Date Line

The world is divided into 24 time zones, but there needs to be a designated place where the day officially changes on the planet. This place is approximately along the 180° line of longitude, known as the International Date Line. At this longitude, the time is exactly 12 hours ahead or behind the time at the Prime Meridian (0° longitude), regardless of whether one travels eastward or westward....

Conclusion

The understanding of latitude, longitude, and time is crucial for navigation, communication, and the coordination of global operations. This knowledge underpins many aspects of modern life and continues to be an important foundation for geographical and scientific inquiry....

Latitude, Longitude and Time- FAQs

What is latitude?...