Understanding latitude and longitude (Click) Welcome to Understanding latitude and longitude. As a geographer, understanding latitude and longitude is an important tool to have in your bag of geography skills. (click) This presentation will help you to learn how to use latitude and longitude to find the absolute location of places.

LONGITUDE Absolute location is location measured using the coordinates of latitude and longitude. LATITUDE (Click) Parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude are grid lines that help us to identify the absolute location of places. (click) The parallels of latitude (click) are horizontal and the Meridians of longitude are vertical. http://pixabay.com/en/america-usa-earth-geography-globe-161113/

Parallels of latitude Parallels of latitude are the parallel lines running horizontally across a map or globe. The Equator is at 0°. The parallels of latitude circle the globe. The parallel at zero degrees latitude is called the equator. We use the parallels of latitude to determine the north–south position of a point on the Earth’s surface. Parallels of latitude are used to determine the north-south position of a place.

Meridians of longitude Meridians of longitude are the long lines running vertically down a map or globe, from pole to pole. The Prime Meridian is at 0º. The meridians of longitude run from pole to pole. The meridian at zero degrees longitude is called the Prime Meridian. We use the meridians of longitude to determine the east–west position of a point on the Earth’s surface. Meridians of longitude are used to determine the east-west position of a place.

Hemispheres The equator is the parallel of latitude that separates the Northern Hemisphere from the Southern Hemisphere. The Eastern and Western Hemisphere are separated by the Prime Meridian (0) and the International Date Line (180). The Earth has geographical divisions. (click) The Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere are divided by the Equator. (Click)The Eastern and Western Hemispheres are divided by the Prime Meridian and the International Date Line. (click) The Prime Meridian and the International Date Line are opposite to each other on the globe. The International Date line is the meridian of longitude opposite the Prime Meridian.

Latitude is measured in degrees, numbered from 0° at the Equator to 90° at the North Pole (Click) Degrees are the unit of measurement of latitude. (click) There are 90 degrees between the Equator and the North Pole (click) and 90 degrees between the Equator and the South Pole (click). and 90° at the South Pole.

Longitude is also measured in degrees, numbered from 0° to 180° east to the International Date Line and 0° to 180° west to the International Date Line. Degrees are also used to measure longitude. There are 180 degrees from the Prime Meridian to the International Date Line.

North and South Degrees of latitude north of the Equator are labelled with an N. Degrees of latitude south of the Equator are labelled with an S. A capital N or S is used to indicate if the parallel of latitude is north or south of the Equator.

East and West Degrees of longitude east of the Prime Meridian are labelled with an E. Degrees of longitude west of the Prime Meridian are labelled with a W. A capital E or W is used to indicate if the meridian of longitude is east or west of the Prime Meridian.

Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn There are other important lines of latitude and longitude that act as lines of reference to help us locate places. The Tropic of Cancer (click) and the Tropic of Capricorn (click) are the parallels of latitude that identify the tropical region of the earth. The Tropic of Cancer is located at 23 and a half degrees north of the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn is located at 23 and a half degrees south of the Equator.

Remember, when stating direction, latitude (north or south) is always stated before longitude (east or west). For example, the location of Shanghai in China, to the nearest full degree, is 30N and 120E. Shanghai, China So, let’s recap. Parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude are grid lines that can be used to navigate the Earth’s surface and to find the absolute location of places. (click) You can that latitude and longitude lines are labelled along the side of the map. From looking at this world map, (click) can you tell in what hemisphere Shanghai, China, is located? [PAUSE FOR RESPONSE.] That’s right, the northern hemisphere. We can also tell from this map that the latitude position of Shanghai is (click) approximately 30 degrees N. Using the Meridian that is closest to Shanghai (click), we can give the approximate longitude as 120 degrees E. When both of these coordinates are read with the latitude given first, (click) the absolute location of a place is described.

Time to practise what you have learnt! (Click, click) Now it is time for you to practise using this system of absolute location. Good luck!