How to read Latitude and Longitude Coordinates
Summary
TLDRThe video script explores the latitude and longitude coordinate system, essential for pinpointing any location on Earth. Originated by Greek astronomer Hipparchus, it's now integral to GPS and GIS. The Earth is sectioned into horizontal latitude lines and vertical longitude lines, with the equator as the zero-degree reference. Key points include the North and South Poles at 90 degrees, the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn at 23.5 degrees, and the Arctic and Antarctic circles at 66.5 degrees. The Prime Meridian, near London, serves as the zero longitude reference. Coordinates are precised into degrees, minutes, and seconds, exemplified by the Great Pyramid of Giza's location. The tutorial invites viewers to locate coordinates of iconic places like the Sydney Opera House, Uluru, and Mount Cook.
Takeaways
- 🌐 Latitude and Longitude is a coordinate system for pinpointing any location on Earth.
- 📜 The concept was first devised by Greek astronomer Hipparchus.
- 🌍 It's essential for global positioning and geographical information systems.
- 📏 The Earth is divided into horizontal lines of latitude and vertical lines of longitude.
- 🔢 Latitude is measured from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles, with north and south designations.
- 🌞 The Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn are at 23°26′11.9″ N and S, respectively.
- ❄️ The Arctic and Antarctic Circles are at 66°33′44″ N and S, marking the boundaries of the temperate zones.
- 📍 Longitude starts from the Prime Meridian near the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, UK.
- 🌐 The Antipodal Meridian of Greenwich is 180°W and 180°E, dividing the Earth into Western and Eastern Hemispheres.
- 🕒 Latitude and longitude are further divided into minutes and seconds for precision, with 60 minutes in a degree and 60 seconds in a minute.
- 🏺 Coordinates are written with degrees, minutes, and seconds, such as the Great Pyramid of Giza at 29°58′45.03″ N, 31°08′03.69″ E.
Q & A
What is the Latitude and Longitude coordinate system used for?
-The Latitude and Longitude coordinate system is used for locating any place on the globe.
Who is credited with devising the first system for locating geographical positions by means of latitudes and longitudes?
-The first system for locating geographical positions by means of latitudes and longitudes was devised by Greek astronomer Hipparchus.
How is the Earth divided in terms of latitude and longitude?
-The Earth is divided into horizontal lines of latitude and vertical lines of longitude.
What are the lines of latitude also known as, and how are they read?
-Lines of latitude are also known as parallels and are read in terms of north and south of the equator.
What are the coordinates of the North and South Poles in terms of latitude?
-The North Pole is at 90 degrees latitude north of the Equator, and the South Pole is at 90 degrees latitude south of the Equator.
What is the significance of the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic Capricorn in terms of latitude?
-The Tropic of Cancer is at 23°26′11.9″ N and the Tropic Capricorn is at 23°26′11.9″ S, marking the boundaries of the tropics.
What are the Arctic and Antarctic circles, and where are they located in terms of latitude?
-The Arctic and Antarctic circles are located at 66 degrees 33 minutes 44 seconds north and south of the Equator, respectively.
What is the starting point for reading longitude, and why was it chosen?
-The starting point for reading longitude is the Prime Meridian, which passes near the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It was chosen as the international zero longitude reference line by an international conference in 1884.
How are degrees of latitude and longitude further divided for more precise location?
-Degrees of latitude and longitude are further divided into minutes and seconds, with 60 minutes in each degree and each minute divided into 60 seconds.
Can you provide an example of how to read the coordinates of a precise point using latitude and longitude?
-The coordinates for the Great Pyramid of Giza are written as 29 degrees 58 minutes 45.03 seconds north, 31 degrees 08 minutes and 03.69 seconds east.
What is the process for reading the minutes and seconds on a latitude or longitude line?
-Right on the line it is 00 minutes, then it goes to 01, 02, 03 and so on, up to 59 minutes before clicking to the next degree, where the minutes would be reset to 00.
Outlines
🌐 Introduction to Latitude and Longitude
This paragraph introduces the concept of latitude and longitude, a coordinate system used for pinpointing locations on Earth. It was first developed by the Greek astronomer Hipparchus and is now integral to global positioning and geographical information systems. The Earth is divided into horizontal lines of latitude and vertical lines of longitude. Latitude is measured from the equator (0 degrees) to the poles (90 degrees North and South), with the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn marking the boundaries of the tropics. The Arctic and Antarctic Circles define the temperate zone. Longitude, measured from the Prime Meridian near Greenwich, UK, extends 180 degrees east and west. The system uses degrees, minutes, and seconds for precision, with 60 minutes in a degree and 60 seconds in a minute. The paragraph concludes with an invitation to locate the coordinates of three famous landmarks: the Sydney Opera House, Uluru (Ayers Rock), and Mount Cook.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Latitude and Longitude
💡Hipparchus
💡Global Positioning System (GPS)
💡Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
💡Equator
💡North Pole and South Pole
💡Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn
💡Arctic and Antarctic Circles
💡Meridians
💡Prime Meridian
💡Minutes and Seconds in Coordinates
Highlights
Latitude and Longitude is a coordinate system for global positioning.
Hipparchus, a Greek astronomer, devised the first system for geographical positions.
The system is integral to GPS and GIS technologies.
The Earth is divided into horizontal lines of latitude and vertical lines of longitude.
Latitude is measured north and south from the equator, starting at zero degrees.
90 degrees north is the North Pole, and 90 degrees south is the South Pole.
The poles are at a 90-degree angle from the equator.
The Tropic of Cancer is at 23°26′11.9″ N, and the Tropic of Capricorn at 23°26′11.9″ S.
The area between the tropics is known as the tropical zone.
The Arctic and Antarctic circles are at 66 degrees 33 minutes 44 seconds north and south.
The temperate zone lies between the tropics and the polar circles.
Lines of longitude, or meridians, start at the Prime Meridian near Greenwich, UK.
The Prime Meridian is the international zero longitude reference line.
Longitude is measured east and west from the Prime Meridian, up to 180 degrees.
Degrees of latitude and longitude are further divided into minutes and seconds for precision.
There are 60 minutes in a degree, and each minute is divided into 60 seconds.
Coordinates are written with degrees, minutes, and seconds for exact location.
The Great Pyramid of Giza's coordinates are given as an example.
Mount Ngaruhoe in New Zealand is used to demonstrate reading coordinates.
The transcript challenges viewers to find coordinates for three famous locations.
Thank you for watching concludes the educational presentation.
Transcripts
Latitude and Longitude is a coordinate system that is used for locating any
place on the globe. The first ever system for locating geographical positions by
means of latitudes and longitudes was devised by Greek astronomer named
Hipparchus. Today it is widely used in global positioning systems and in
geographical information systems. The earth is divided up into horizontal
lines of latitude and vertical lines of longitude. Latitude is read first,
longitude second. Lines of latitude also known as parallels are read in terms of
north and south of the equator. The starting point is the equator which is
zero degrees latitude. 90 degrees latitude north of the Equator is the
North Pole. 90 degrees south of the Equator is the South Pole. Note that the
poles are at a 90 degree angle from the equator.
North of the equator is the northern hemisphere.
South of the equator is the southern hemisphere.
North of the Equator (23°26′11.9″ N) we have the Tropic of Cancer
South of the Equator is the Tropic Capricorn. ( 23°26′11.9″ S)
Between these lines are the tropics.
At 66 degrees 33 minutes 44 seconds north and south of the Equator
are have Arctic and Antarctic circles.
Between here and the tropics is the temperate zone.
Lines of longitude are also known as Meridians.
The starting point for reading longitude is the Prime Meridian
which is a line passing near the Royal Observatory in Greenwich near London in the United Kingdom.
This site was chosen as the international zero longitude reference line by an international conference in 1884.
The Antipodal Meridian of Greenwich is both 180 degrees west and 180 east.
West of the Prime Meridian is the Western Hemisphere.
East of the prime meridian is Eastern Hemisphere.
To locate a precise point on the Earth's surface,
degrees of latitude and longitude have been divided into minutes and seconds.
There are 60 minutes in each degree and each minute is divided into 60 seconds.
For example, the coordinates for the Great Pyramid of Giza is written as 29 degrees 58 minutes 45.03 seconds north,
31 degrees 08 minutes and 03.69 seconds east.
Now to show you how to read the coordinates of a precise point.
The first example I will use is Mount Ngaruhoe in the North Island of New Zealand.
As mentioned earlier between each degree of latitude or longitude there is a division of 60 seconds.
Right on the line it is 00 minutes
then it goes to 01, 02, 03 and so on.
At the halfway point it would be 30 minutes followed by 31 minutes and so on
until we get to 59 minutes before clicking to the next degree of latitude or longitude,
where the minutes would be returned back to 00.
Now that I've shown you how to read latitude and longitude,
get a map and find the coordinates for these three locations:
The Sydney Opera House,
Uluru also known as Ayers Rock, in Australia
and Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak.
Thank you for watching.
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