Latitude and longitude are geographical coordinates used to specify locations on the Earth’s surface. Here are five key differences between latitude and longitude:
Definition:
Latitude: Latitude is the angular distance measured north or south of the equator, which is the imaginary line that circles the Earth horizontally. It is expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds.
Longitude: Longitude is the angular distance measured east or west of the prime meridian, which is the reference line passing through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It is also expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds.
Orientation:
Latitude: Latitude lines run parallel to the equator and are horizontal circles around the Earth.
Longitude: Longitude lines run from the North Pole to the South Pole, converging at the poles. They are vertical half-circles.
Measurement Direction:
Latitude: Latitude is measured in degrees north (N) or south (S) of the equator. The equator itself is at 0° latitude.
Longitude: Longitude is measured in degrees east (E) or west (W) of the prime meridian. The prime meridian itself is at 0° longitude.
Maximum and Minimum Values:
Latitude: Latitude ranges from 0° at the equator to a maximum of 90°N at the North Pole and a maximum of 90°S at the South Pole.
Longitude: Longitude ranges from 0° at the prime meridian to a maximum of 180°E or 180°W, meeting at the antimeridian (opposite to the prime meridian).
Reference Lines:
Latitude: The equator serves as the reference line for measuring latitude. It is an imaginary circle equidistant from the poles.
Longitude: The prime meridian (0°) serves as the reference line for measuring longitude. It passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, but other meridians are used for navigation and mapping.
In summary, latitude measures north-south positions relative to the equator, while longitude measures east-west positions relative to the prime meridian. Together, latitude and longitude provide a coordinate system that allows precise location identification on the Earth’s surface.