Finding Latitude and Longitude Coordinates

Latitude and longitude coordinates can be deduced by knowing the position of a stationary observer or place on Earth in relation to the equator and the prime meridian. As Earth is spherical in shape, one can figure the latitude and longitude of the place in degrees. These longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates are written in a format consisting of degrees, minutes, and seconds. The latitude measurements is written before the longitude measurements as: 38° 53′ 42.4″ N, 77° 2′ 12″ W. Finding latitude and longitude coordinates are essential for mariners and explorers. Due to advances in technology, there are loads of electronic tools which can calculate latitude and longitude at a click of mouse with great precision and thus simplifying the task to a great extent. Previously calculating the precise latitude and longitude was very important. The whole exercise was a Herculean task where the services of sharp scientific minds were sought.

Lines of latitude surrounds the Earth in the form of circles. These circles tend to be smaller as its distance increases from the equator. A latitude coordinate can be defined in terms of degrees of difference between the equator and location of the observer. Each degree of latitude covers a distance of 60 nautical miles between each degree of latitude.

In common practice, people conceptualize altitude measurements in the terms of North or South. For example there is no meaning in an expression like “22 degrees of latitude” unless it is clear in which direction it is situated and in which hemisphere the observer is situated. Some lines of latitude are termed as the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. These lines are situated in the different hemispheres. Before the advent of new and improved technology people used a tool called sextant to find out latitude. This tool enabled them to calculate the degree of difference between the observer and the equator with utmost precision.

Longitude could be termed as a degree of difference between an observer and the Prime Meridian, the imaginary line t which runs through, London, England. The prime meridian kept changing for a very long time unless an agreement was reached to consider Greenwich as the Prime Meridian. The lines of longitude converge at the poles. No longitudinal measurement can ever exceed 180 degrees. A person who is standing at 180 degrees East is along the same line of longitude as a person standing at 180 degrees West.

In other words finding latitude and longitudes coordinates offers you a concrete understanding of ones location.

Finding latitude and longitudes have great importance for meteorologists and astronomers as there work depends a lot on these data. The measurement of longitudes are made by calculating the time difference between the location of the observer and the Prime Meridian. The standard time at the Prime Meridian is called Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), and time across the earth is set in reference to this time.

All these facts and figures indicates the importance of accurate finding of latitude and longitudes coordinates.