Longitude and Latitude Latitude Latitudethe angular distance of

Longitude and Latitude

Latitude • Latitude-the angular distance of any place north or south of the equator • 0° latitude-equator • 23 ° N -tropics of Cancer • 23 ° S-tropics of Capricorn • 66. 5 ° N-Arctic circle • 66. 5 ° S-Antarctic circle

Characteristics of latitude • Parallel to one another • Always remain equal distance apart and along true east-west • All parallels except the equator are small circles • Expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds

Longitudes • Angular distance of any place east or west of the Prime Meridian is called the longitude of that place. • Lines of the longitudes-meridians • 0° or meridian of Greenwich –prime meridian • All longitude lines form great circles • Any circle at the earth’s surface with its centre at the earth’s centre is a great circle.

Characteristics of longitudes • All meridians run in a true north-south direction. • Meridians spaced farthest apart at the equator and converge at the poles. • All longitude lines form great circle.

Distribution of continents and oceans • Two-third of the continental land mass-northern hemisphere • Less than 35% of the total land –south of the equator • 50 and 65 S –no land • Continents • Oceans-71% of the total area of the earth’s surface • Pacific ocean, Atlantic ocean, Indian ocean, Arctic ocean • Av. Depth-3729 m