Latitude
Latitude is the angular distance of a point on the earth’s surface, measured in degree from centre of the earth. Latitude (00), called equator, divides the earth into two equals- the Northern and Southern hemisphere. All other latitudes are parallel to the equator and to each other; hence, the latitudes are also called parallels of latitude.
Importance of latitude lines include:
(i) The equator 0o
(ii) Tropic of Cancer (lat 231/2oN), tropic of Capricorn (lat 231/2oN), arctic circle (661/2oN), Antarctic Circle (661/2oS), North pole (90oN) and South pole (90oS)
Uses of Lines of Latitude
(i) The lines of latitude in conjunction with that of longitude are used to determine the exact location of places on the atlas map.
North pole 90oN
Arctic circle 661/2oN
Tropic of cancer 231/2oN
Equator 0o
Tropic of Capricorn 231/2oS
Antarctic Circle 661/2oS
South pole 90oS
(ii) Lines are also used to calculate the distance between two places on the earth surface
Calculation of distances using lines of latitude
The distance between one line of the latitude and another is 111km
Two points lying North or South of equator are subtracted to get the latitude difference.
Example: Calculate the appropriate distance in a straight line between Tama (lat 60N) and London (lat 520 N)
Solution: Latitude difference = 520 – 60 = 460
Average distance = 111km
460 = 46 x 111km = 5, 106km
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