Mastering Geographic Coordinates

What is the geographic coordinate system?

The geographic coordinate system is a system that uses latitude and longitude to specify locations on the globe.

What are latitude and longitude?

Latitude and longitude are coordinates used in the geographic coordinate system to specify a location on the globe. Latitude measures the distance north or south of the Equator, while longitude measures the distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.

What is elevation?

Elevation is the height of a location above or below a reference point, usually sea level.

What is the purpose of latitude and longitude?

Latitude and longitude are used to precisely locate any point on the Earth's surface. Signup and view all the answers

How are latitude and longitude measured?

Latitude is measured in degrees, with 0 degrees at the Equator and 90 degrees at the North and South Poles. Longitude is also measured in degrees, with 0 degrees at the Prime Meridian and 180 degrees at the International Date Line. Signup and view all the answers

What are some uses of the geographic coordinate system?

The geographic coordinate system is used in navigation, cartography, surveying, and other applications that require accurate location information. Signup and view all the answers

What is elevation and how is it measured?

Elevation is the height above or below sea level. It is measured in feet. Signup and view all the answers

What is the geographic coordinate system?

The geographic coordinate system is a system that uses latitude and longitude to specify locations on the globe. Signup and view all the answers

What does latitude define?

Latitude defines how far north or south a point is on the globe relative to the equator. Signup and view all the answers

What does the equator divide the Earth into?

The equator divides the Earth into Northern and Southern hemispheres. Signup and view all the answers

What does longitude define?

Longitude defines how far east or west a point is on the globe relative to the prime meridian. Signup and view all the answers

What is the prime meridian?

The prime meridian is an imaginary line that separates the Earth into Eastern and Western hemispheres. It passes through Greenwich, England. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between degrees, minutes, and seconds in the geographic coordinate system?

In the geographic coordinate system, a degree equals 60 nautical miles, a minute equals one nautical mile, and a second equals approximately 100 feet. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Study.com?

Study.com is a website that provides educational resources and practice quizzes to help students pass exams. Signup and view all the answers

Define latitude and explain how it is measured.

Latitude is a measurement that defines how far north or south a point is on the globe relative to the equator. It is expressed in degrees, with the equator sitting at 0° latitude. As you move north, the degrees increase from 0 to 90°. However, they also go up to 90 as you move south. To determine whether a point is north or south, its latitude is expressed as so-and-so degrees North or so-and-so degrees South. Signup and view all the answers

What is the equator and what does it divide?

The equator is an imaginary line drawn around the Earth equally distant from both poles. It divides the Earth into Northern and Southern hemispheres. Signup and view all the answers

How can you remember that latitude lines go across the globe?

One way to remember that latitude lines go across the globe is to link the 'a' in latitude to the 'a' in the word 'across'. Another way is to think of latitude lines as rungs on a ladder that go across. Signup and view all the answers

Define longitude and explain how it is measured.

Longitude is a measurement that defines how far east or west a point is on the globe relative to the prime meridian. The prime meridian is an imaginary line that separates the Earth into Eastern and Western hemispheres. Longitude is expressed in degrees, with the prime meridian sitting at 0° longitude. It goes from 0 to 180° east or west. Longitude is expressed as so-and-so degrees east or so-and-so degrees west. Signup and view all the answers

What is the prime meridian and where is it believed to pass through?

The prime meridian is an imaginary line drawn around the Earth that separates it into Eastern and Western hemispheres. It is believed to pass directly through Greenwich, England and is often referred to as the Greenwich meridian. Signup and view all the answers