Using Latitude and Using Latitude and LongitudeLongitude

Where is the bank???Where is the bank???

If someone asked you the location If someone asked you the location of the local town bank, you may of the local town bank, you may say "It is on the corner of Main say "It is on the corner of Main and Third streets." Latitude and and Third streets." Latitude and longitude are like imaginary longitude are like imaginary streets on the earth.streets on the earth.

How can I remember which lines How can I remember which lines are which?are which?

LatitudeLatitude

Latitude lines are imaginary lines Latitude lines are imaginary lines on the earth's surface.on the earth's surface.

They run east and west around They run east and west around the globe and tell you your the globe and tell you your distance north or south of the distance north or south of the EquatorEquator..

Latter-tudeLatter-tude

Think of latitude like Think of latitude like the rungs of a the rungs of a ladder (ladder ladder (ladder sounds a lot like sounds a lot like latitude). latitude).

Latitude lines run Latitude lines run east and west, but east and west, but they tell how far up they tell how far up (north) you can go (north) you can go or how far down or how far down (south) you can go.(south) you can go.

Longitude Longitude

Longitude lines are imaginary Longitude lines are imaginary lines on the earth's surface that lines on the earth's surface that run from pole to pole around the run from pole to pole around the globe and tell you your distance globe and tell you your distance east or west from the Prime east or west from the Prime Meridian.Meridian.

When you think of longitude, think of When you think of longitude, think of long, tall telephone poles (because long, tall telephone poles (because longitude lines run from pole to pole). longitude lines run from pole to pole).

Longitude lines run north and south, Longitude lines run north and south, but they tell how far east you can go but they tell how far east you can go or how far west you can go.or how far west you can go.

Why degrees? Why degrees?

In the field of mathematics, circles In the field of mathematics, circles are measured in degrees. There are measured in degrees. There are 360 degrees in a circle. Since are 360 degrees in a circle. Since the earth is basically circular, it the earth is basically circular, it was decided to measure latitude was decided to measure latitude and longitude in degrees also.and longitude in degrees also.

Bell RingerBell Ringer

Which directions do each latitude and Which directions do each latitude and longitude run?longitude run?

Latitude : East – West & give North -Latitude : East – West & give North -South DirectionSouth Direction

Longitude : Run Pole to Pole or North Longitude : Run Pole to Pole or North South & give East – West DirectionSouth & give East – West Direction

The first latitude line was the Equator The first latitude line was the Equator (equally distant between the north (equally distant between the north and south poles). and south poles).

It is the largest of all latitude lines. It is the largest of all latitude lines.

All other latitude lines are measured in All other latitude lines are measured in degrees north or south of the degrees north or south of the Equator. There are a maximum of 90 Equator. There are a maximum of 90 degrees of latitude to the north or the degrees of latitude to the north or the south of the Equatorsouth of the Equator

LongitudeLongitude

The first longitude line was the Prime The first longitude line was the Prime Meridian. Any meridian could have Meridian. Any meridian could have been chosen as the Prime Meridian been chosen as the Prime Meridian because they are all exactly the same.because they are all exactly the same.

It passes through the Royal Observatory It passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England. in Greenwich, England.

The Prime Meridian The Prime Meridian was selected by was selected by international international agreement at the agreement at the International International Meridian Meridian Conference called Conference called by President by President Chester Arthur in Chester Arthur in October of 1884. October of 1884.

Representatives from Representatives from 25 nations met in 25 nations met in Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. All other longitude All other longitude lines are measured lines are measured in degrees east or in degrees east or west of the Prime west of the Prime Meridian. Meridian.

There are a maximum There are a maximum of 180 degrees on of 180 degrees on longitude to the longitude to the east or the west of east or the west of the Prime Meridian.the Prime Meridian.

Center of Trade and World TimeCenter of Trade and World Time

Distance and RecordingDistance and Recording

It is approximately 70 miles It is approximately 70 miles between two latitude lines. between two latitude lines. For For more accuracy in location, more accuracy in location, degrees can be divided into degrees can be divided into smaller parts. One degree can be smaller parts. One degree can be divided into 60 minutes (') and divided into 60 minutes (') and one minute can be divided into one minute can be divided into 60 seconds (").60 seconds ("). We will not use We will not use minutes or seconds of latitude minutes or seconds of latitude and longitude in this course.and longitude in this course.

How to sound smart! How to sound smart!

It is customary to give the latitude of a place It is customary to give the latitude of a place first, and the longitude second. first, and the longitude second.

For example, you would say "35 degrees For example, you would say "35 degrees north, 77 degrees west". north, 77 degrees west".

This eliminates the need to say the words This eliminates the need to say the words latitude and longitude.latitude and longitude.

Make sure that you give a direction with the Make sure that you give a direction with the number. If you simply say "66 degrees number. If you simply say "66 degrees latitude", there are two of them - one in the latitude", there are two of them - one in the north and one in the south.north and one in the south.

This will give the location of one This will give the location of one of your streets.of your streets.

To find a latitude line To find a latitude line such as 60 degrees such as 60 degrees north latitude, you north latitude, you must do three must do three things:things:

1. Go to your 1. Go to your starting line (the starting line (the Equator).Equator).2. Determine which 2. Determine which direction you must direction you must go (north or south).go (north or south).3. Determine the 3. Determine the distance in degrees distance in degrees you must go (60).you must go (60).

This will give the location of one This will give the location of one of your second street.of your second street.

To find a longitude To find a longitude line such as 40 line such as 40 degrees east degrees east longitude, you must longitude, you must do three things:do three things:

1. Go to your 1. Go to your starting line (the starting line (the Prime Meridian).Prime Meridian).2. Determine which 2. Determine which direction you must direction you must go (east or west).go (east or west).3. Determine the 3. Determine the distance in degrees distance in degrees you must go (40). you must go (40). 

The bank is here…The bank is here…

Important!!!!Important!!!!

The Equator is neither North nor The Equator is neither North nor South of the starting line, so it is South of the starting line, so it is simply 0º latitude (no direction simply 0º latitude (no direction needed). needed).

The Prime Meridian would be 0º The Prime Meridian would be 0º longitude (no direction needed). longitude (no direction needed). Notice this on the two diagrams.Notice this on the two diagrams.

Why do I even need to know this Why do I even need to know this stuff?stuff?

Military – Missiles Military – Missiles Weather- Weather-

HurricanesHurricanes CB RadiosCB Radios Plane Crashes and Plane Crashes and

ship wrecks for ship wrecks for emergency emergency workers. workers.

GPSGPS To pass my test! To pass my test!

Label your popsicle sticksLabel your popsicle sticks

One will be LATITUDE One will be LATITUDE horizontally on the horizontally on the front and EQUATOR front and EQUATOR horizontally on the horizontally on the back.back.

The other will be The other will be Longitude vertically on Longitude vertically on the front and prime the front and prime meridian on the back meridian on the back vertically vertically

LL OO NN GG II TT UU DD EE

Practice Makes Perfect Practice Makes Perfect

You need a latitude and longitude You need a latitude and longitude grid worksheet and your markers. grid worksheet and your markers.

This is your ticket out the door! This is your ticket out the door! You may work in small groups but You may work in small groups but

each of you has to turn in a each of you has to turn in a worksheet. worksheet.