1. Understanding
Longitude & Latitude

2. The Earth’s Invisible Lines
The X axis is called the Equator.
The Y axis is called the Prime Meridian or sometimes the Greewich Meridian because it runs through the town of Greenwich outside of London.
Lat/Long are the 2 grid points by which you can locate any point on earth. Y X

3. East West, North South on the Earth
Let each of the four quarters then be designated by North or South and East or West. N W E S

4.
These invisible lines are numbered starting from the x and y axis, moving outward.

5. They are Labeled: East West, North South on the Earth
The N tells us we’re north of the Equator. The S tells us we’re south of the Equator.
The E tells us that we’re east of the Prime Meridian. The W tells us that we’re west of the Prime Meridian.
(N, W)
(N, E)
(S, W)
(S, E)

6. East West, North South on the Earth
That means all points in North America will have a North latitude and a West longitude because it is North of the Equator and West of the Prime Meridian.
(N, W)
Prime Meridian

7. East West, North South on the Earth
What would be the latitude and longitude directions in Australia? ?
Prime Meridian

8. Latitude is the distance from the equator along the Y axis.
What is Latitude?
Latitude is the distance from the equator along the Y axis.
All points along the equator have a value of 0 degrees latitude.
North pole = 90°N
South pole = 90°S
Values are expressed in terms of degrees.
90°N Y X
90°S

9. Latitude
The distance from the equator effects the temperature and climate of a place.
The closer to the equator a place is, the hotter it is and the less it’s temperature varies throughout the year.
The farther away from the equator a place is, the larger the temperature variation. These places have very cold winters and hot summers.

10. What is Longitude?
Longitude is the distance from the prime meridian along the X axis.
All points along the prime meridian have a value of 0 degrees longitude.
The farthest point west is 180, the farthest point east is 180 Y X
180°W
180°E

11. Time Zones
The longitude of a place effects it’s time.

12. Click on map to go to interactive link (http://www. timeanddate

13. (0,0) is off the western coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean.
The origin point (0,0) is where the equator intersects the prime meridian.
(0,0) is off the western coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean.
So Where is (0,0)?

14. See If You Can Tell In Which Quarter These Lon/Lats Are Located
1. 41°N, 21°E
2. 37°N, 76°W
3. 72°S, 141°W
4. 7°S, 23°W
5. 15°N, 29°E
6. 34°S, 151°E A B D C

15. Let's See How
You Did!
1. B
2. A
3. C
4. C
5. B
6. D

16. Positioning on the Earth’s Surface
East is the direction of rotation of the Earth
Equator
Latitude 0o
Latitude: (90oN to 90oS)
North Pole
South Pole
Prime Meridian
0o Longitude
Longitude: (180oE to 180oW)
Longitude 60o West
Longitude 30o West
Longitude 60o East
90o
Longitude 30o East
66½o
Latitude 23½o North
Tropic of Cancer
23½o
21st June
22nd December
22nd Sept
20th March
90oW
60oW
30oW
90oE
30oE
60oE
23½o
900
Latitude 23½o South
Tropic of Capricorn
Longitude 90o West
Longitude 90oEast
Latitude and Longitude together enable the fixing of position on the Earth’s surface.

17. Now you’re ready to find some locations on a map!