Latitude and Longitude
Think of graphing a point on an xy plane. The first value would be x, how far left or right we are, and the second value is y, how far up or down we are.
In these terms, think of longitude as x and latitude as y. Instead of left or right, think east or west, and instead of up or down, think of north or south. Along the same lines, think of a point as a coordinate in the form of (latitude , longitude). This gives us the north-south position first and the east-west position second.
What is Latitude?
Latitude is the angular distance of a point on Earth's surface north or south of the equator. Latitude is measured in degrees using the parallel lines that run from east to west. The image below is an illustration from NOAA of the latitude lines on a globe. The equator is at 0 degrees and wraps around the center of the Earth. Above the equator is called the Northern Hemisphere and below the equator is called the Southern Hemisphere. On the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole marks 90 degrees and the highest point of latitude. On the Southern Hemisphere, the South Pole marks -90 degrees and the lowest point of latitude.
What is Longitude?
Longitude is the angular distance of a point on Earth's surface east or west of the prime meridian. Longitude is measured in degrees using the meridian lines that run from north to south. The image below is an illustration from NOAA of the longitude lines on a globe. The prime meridian is at 0 degrees and wraps around the center of the Earth. The prime meridian runs through Greenwich, England. To the east of the prime meridian is called the Eastern Hemisphere and to the west of the prime meridian is called the Western Hemisphere. Longitude runs from 0 to 180 degrees east and from 0 to -180 degrees west.
Things to Remember
- Both latitude and longitude are measured in degrees, minutes, and arcminutes. For simplicity, I will only be showing them in degrees.
- Latitude ranges from 0 degrees to 90 degrees and the reference is the equator.
- Longitude ranges from 0 degrees to 180 degrees and the reference is the prime meridian.
- Latitude lines run east to west and measure how far north or south something is from the equator.
- Longitude lines run north to south and measure how far east or west something is from the prime meridian.
- Coordinates are the location of something on the Earth and are in the form of (latitude , longitude).