Latitude and Longitude

Latitude- the distance in degrees north or south of the equator

The latitude of the equator is 0° (degrees)

What is latitude?

The equator is a line of latitude dividing the earth into the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere

Northern Hemisphere

Southern Hemisphere

Equator

How is latitude measured?

• Latitude is measured from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles.

• Locations above the equator are measured in degrees north (N), and below the equator in degrees south (S)

Why are latitude lines also called parallels?

What is longitude?

Longitude- points west of the prime meridian are numbered from 0° to 180° degrees west (W), and points east of the prime meridian are 0° to 180° degrees east (E).

The prime meridian represents 0° longitude, and it runs through the continents of Europe and Africa

Where is the prime meridian?

• All meridian lines meet at the poles

• The International Dateline is 180° from the prime meridian- going west, you gain a day; and going east, lose a day

To locate a specific place on the map:

Start at 0°, 0°.

• Find latitude- degrees and direction(North or

South)

• Find longitude- in degrees and direction (East or West)

When giving the coordinates of a place, the latitude is always the first number

Coordinates of our classroom

32° N, 117° W

Latitude, Longitude

Locating Places with Coordinates

The coordinates for New Orleans are 29°N, 90°W.

• Start at 0°, 0°.

• Go 29°N (north is “up”)

• Then go 90°W

(west is “to the left”)

Is it NW or WN?Is it NE or EN?Is it SW or WS?Is it SE or ES?

Which comes first latitude, or, longitude?

Is it NW or WN?Is it NE or EN?Is it SW or WS?Is it SE or ES?

Which comes first latitude, or, longitude?Latitude, Longitude

Definitions Practice

1. Match the following terms with their definitions.

___ latitude

___ longitude

___ prime meridian

___ equator

A. the reference point for longitude

B. the distance in degrees east or west of 0°

C. the reference point for latitude

D. the distance in degrees north or south of 0°

D

B

A

C

Turn to page 25 and 26 and read the following sections:

Measuring in DegreesThe EquatorThe Prime MeridianLocating Point on Earth’s SurfaceUsing Latitude and Longitude

After reading, begin answering questions 1 - 16. REMEMBER… for Question 2 you are locating the cities and labeling them on the map provided on the very back page of the handout.