Latitude and Longitude:

Finding Locations onPlanet Earth.

With thanks and credit to Step.com

GEOGRAPHY – LONGITUDE/LATITUDE

BELLRINGER 10/3

hWhat is longitude?

hHow does it work?

hWhat is latitude?

hHow does it work?

Draw a Circle on your paper. Create the equator and the prime meridian.

On the map horizontal linesare lines of latitude and....

vertical lines are lines oflongitude.

The X axis is the equator

and the Y axis which runsthrough Greenwich, Englandis the Prime Meridian.Equator

Prime Meridian

Any location north of the equator is in the

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, written as ___°N(Hemi = half; sphere = globe)

Any location south of the equator is in the SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, written as ___°S(Hemi = half; sphere = globe)

Any location west of the prime meridian is in the WESTERN HEMISPHERE, written as ____°W(Hemi = half; sphere = globe)

Any location east of the prime meridian is in the EASTERN HEMISPHERE, written as ____°E(Hemi = half; sphere = globe)

We can divide the Earth into quadrants: NE where alllatitudes are NORTH and all longitudes are EAST.(quadrants quad = four)

We can divide the Earth into quadrants: SE where alllatitudes are SOUTH and all longitudes are EAST.(quadrants quad = four)

We can divide the Earth into quadrants: SW where alllatitudes are SOUTH and all longitudes are WEST.(quadrants quad = four)

We can divide the Earth into quadrants: NW where alllatitudes are NORTH and all longitudes are WEST.

EVERY point in the United States will have a NORTHlatitude and a WEST longitude since we are in the NW quadrant.

With the person next to you answer the following questions:

hWhat continent is in the NE quadrant?

hWhat continent is in the SE quadrant?

hWhat continent is in the NW quadrant?

hWhat continent is in the SW quadrant?

h(Can you add any countries you know)?

90°S

90°N What is latitude? (HORIZONTAL LINES)

Latitude measures the distance North and South from the equator.

Label the North Pole 90° N

Label the South Pole 90° S

And remember that theequator is 0° latitude.

What is the maximum possible latitude on Earth?

90° is maximum. You could be at 90°N or 90°S butthere is no greater latitude on Earth (or anywhere else)

0°

Y-axis

What is longitude? VERTICAL LINES

Longitude measures the distance East and West from the prime meridian

The prime meridian is 0°

0°

And if you go half wayaround the world you willreach the 180° longitudeline.180° 180°

Understand that there aren’t two 180° lines. On this FLAT map it just looks that way. It’s the SAME line.

What is the maximum possible longitude on Earth?180° longitude

Each box on this map is 15°. With that in mind how can we identify specific locations(red dots)? Remember, write latitude first!

What are the coordinates of location......A

60°N, 30°W

What are the coordinates of location......B

15°S, 105°W

What are the coordinates of location......C

75°S, 75°E

But what about location D ? It’s in the middle of a box. What do we do now?

Here are some things to remember:

Latitude is written first and must always include N (north) or S (south) of the equator.

Longitude is written next and must always include E (east) or W (west) of the prime meridian.

As with anything else you learn you will get better with practice.........

SO PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

WORLD TIME ZONES

Fig. 1-9: The world’s 24 standard time zones each represent about 15° of longitude. GMT is Universal Time. International Date Line (turn clock forward 24 hrs going WEST; turn back 24hrs going EAST)

US Land Ordinance, 1785

hUS divided country into townships and ranges so that land could be divided up and sold to white settlers moving West

A township is 6 square milesPrincipal Meridians – some of the north-south linesBase lines – some of the east-west lines

Townships are split into 36 square mile sections (1-36)

Tiers are N/S of baselines

Ranges are E/W of meridians

Sections are divided into 4 quarter-sections (NW/NE/SW/SE)

Survey maps have a scale of 1:24,000 (1 in = 24,000 in or 2,000 ft)

How to Read Township and Range:

hN ½ of NW ¼ of sec. 19, T44N, R8E

R7E R8E

T44N

T44N

NW

24

NE NW

19

NE

SW SE SW SE

NW

25

NE NW

30

NE

SW SE SW SE