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Questions and Answers
What is a geographic grid coordinate system?
What is the basis of the Geographic Coordinate System (GCS)?
What is the range of latitude?
What is the middle point between the North and South Poles?
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What is the range of longitude?
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What is the reference point for measuring longitude?
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What separates two consecutive calendar days?
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How many zones does the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System divide the Earth into?
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Which of the following is a characteristic of lines of latitude?
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At what value would you find the equator in terms of latitude?
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What is the maximum possible value for degrees of longitude?
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What conventionally marks finer divisions within a degree of latitude or longitude?
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How do lines of longitude behave as they approach the poles?
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Which statement correctly describes the increase in value of latitude?
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What coordinates represent the prime meridian in terms of longitude?
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In which direction do the values of longitude increase?
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Study Notes
Coordinate Systems
- A geographic grid coordinate system is a method of assigning a unique set of coordinates to every location on the Earth's surface.
- There are several types of coordinate systems, including:
- Geographic Coordinate System (GCS): based on latitude and longitude
- Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System: a 2D Cartesian system that divides the Earth into 60 zones
- State Plane Coordinate System (SPCS): a 2D Cartesian system used in the United States
Latitudes
- Latitude is an angular distance measured from the Equator, ranging from 0° to 90° (North or South).
- Latitude is divided into:
- Equator (0°): the middle point between the North and South Poles
- Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N): the northernmost point on Earth where the Sun can be directly overhead
- Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S): the southernmost point on Earth where the Sun can be directly overhead
- Arctic Circle (66.5° N): the northernmost point on Earth where the Sun can be seen at midnight on the summer solstice
- Antarctic Circle (66.5° S): the southernmost point on Earth where the Sun can be seen at midnight on the summer solstice
Longitudes
- Longitude is an angular distance measured from the Prime Meridian, ranging from 0° to 180° (East or West).
- Longitude is divided into:
- Prime Meridian (0°): passes through Greenwich, England, and is the reference point for measuring longitude
- International Date Line (180°): separates two consecutive calendar days
- East longitude (0° to 180°): measured east of the Prime Meridian
- West longitude (0° to 180°): measured west of the Prime Meridian
Coordinate Systems
- A geographic grid coordinate system assigns a unique set of coordinates to every location on the Earth's surface.
- There are multiple types of coordinate systems, including:
- Geographic Coordinate System (GCS) based on latitude and longitude.
- Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System, a 2D Cartesian system dividing the Earth into 60 zones.
- State Plane Coordinate System (SPCS), a 2D Cartesian system used in the United States.
Latitudes
- Latitude is an angular distance measured from the Equator, ranging from 0° to 90° (North or South).
- The Equator is 0° latitude, the middle point between the North and South Poles.
- The Tropic of Cancer is 23.5° N, the northernmost point on Earth where the Sun can be directly overhead.
- The Tropic of Capricorn is 23.5° S, the southernmost point on Earth where the Sun can be directly overhead.
- The Arctic Circle is 66.5° N, the northernmost point on Earth where the Sun can be seen at midnight on the summer solstice.
- The Antarctic Circle is 66.5° S, the southernmost point on Earth where the Sun can be seen at midnight on the summer solstice.
Longitudes
- Longitude is an angular distance measured from the Prime Meridian, ranging from 0° to 180° (East or West).
- The Prime Meridian is 0° longitude, passing through Greenwich, England, and is the reference point for measuring longitude.
- The International Date Line is 180° longitude, separating two consecutive calendar days.
- East longitude ranges from 0° to 180°, measured east of the Prime Meridian.
- West longitude ranges from 0° to 180°, measured west of the Prime Meridian.
Geographic Grid Coordinates
Latitudes
- Imaginary lines that run parallel to the equator, measuring distance north or south of the equator.
- Range from 0° to 90° north (N) or south (S) of the equator.
- Typically marked in increments of 1°, with finer divisions of 1' (minute) and 1" (second).
- Parallel to each other and to the equator.
- Equidistant from each other (approximately 111 km or 69 miles apart).
- Increase in value as you move towards the poles.
Longitudes
- Imaginary lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole, measuring distance east or west of the prime meridian.
- Range from 0° to 180° east (E) or west (W) of the prime meridian.
- Typically marked in increments of 1°, with finer divisions of 1' (minute) and 1" (second).
- Converge at the poles and are widest at the equator.
- Not parallel to each other, but intersect at the poles.
- Increase in value as you move east or west from the prime meridian.
Key Points
- The intersection of a latitude and longitude line creates a unique geographic coordinate.
- Latitude and longitude values can be expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds (e.g., 43° 12' 30" N, 122° 45' 20" W).
- The combination of latitude and longitude allows for precise location identification on the Earth's surface.
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Description
Learn about different types of coordinate systems used to locate points on the Earth's surface, including Geographic Coordinate System, Universal Transverse Mercator System, and State Plane Coordinate System.
