Latitude and LongitudeCreating Coordinates

Latitude

What is Latitude?

• Lines of Latitude run horizontally• Latitude is measured in degrees.• The Equator is 0 degrees Latitude.• Lines of Latitude locate places North or

South of the Equator.• The North Pole is 90 degrees N Latitude,

and the South Pole is 90 degrees S Latitude.

Latitude

North Pole

South Pole

Lines of latitude are numbered from 0° at the equator to 90° N.L. at the North Pole.

Lines of latitude are numbered from 0° at the equator to 90° S.L. at the South Pole.

][

90 8070

6050

40

2030

10

9080

70605040

2010

30

Latitude

The North Pole is at 90° N

The South Pole is at 90° S

The equator is at 0° latitude. It is neither north nor south. It is at the center between north and south.

40° N is the 40° line of latitude north of the equator.

40° S is the 40° line of latitude south of the equator.

Longitude

• Lines of Longitude run vertically.• They are also called Meridians.• The Prime Meridian is found in

Greenwich, England.• The Prime Meridian is 0 degrees

Longitude.• Lines of Longitude locate places East or

West of the Prime Meridian.• There are 180 degrees of east Longitude,

and 180 degrees of west Longitude.

Longitude Lines of longitude begin

at the Prime Meridian.

60° W is the 60° line of longitude west of the Prime Meridian.

The Prime Meridian is located at 0°. It is neither east or west

60° E is the 60° line of longitude east of the Prime Meridian.

W E

Longitude

Lines of longitude are numbered east from the Prime Meridian to the 180° line and west from the Prime Meridian to the 180° line.

PRIME MERIDIAN

West L

ongitude

East L

ongitude

180° N

EW

S

North Pole

Prime MeridianThe Prime Meridian (0°) and the 180° line split the earth into

the Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere.

Prime Meridian

Western Hemisphere

Eastern Hemisphere

Places located east of the Prime Meridian have an east longitude (E) address. Places located west of the Prime Meridian have a west longitude (W) address.

INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE180°

• SEPARATES 2 CALENDAR DAYS.

America to Asia – gain a dayAsia to America – lose a day

Greenwich, England is the logical starting point for time zones

• The world rotates west to east (counterclockwise), time zones to the east are ahead of the those time zones to the west

Combining latitude and longitude forms coordinates

A location’s coordinates(____° N or S, ____ ° E or W)

How to Find a Coordinate: East West, North South on The Earth

• Let the X axis be the Equator.

• Let the Y axis be the Prime Meridian that runs through Greenwich outside of London.

• Lat/Long are the 2 grid points by which you can locate any point on earth.

Y

X

East West, North South on the Earth

• Let each of the four quarters then be designated by North or South and East or West.

N

S

EW

East West, North South on the Earth

• The N tells us we’re north of the Equator.

• The S tells us we’re south of the Equator.

• The E tells us that we’re east of the Prime Meridian.

• The W tells us that we’re west of the Prime Meridian.

(N, W) (N, E)

(S, W) (S, E)

ApplicationN

W E

S North America is in the Northern Hemisphere because it is

north of the Equator. North America is in the Western Hemisphere because it is west of the Prime Meridian.

East West, North South on the Earth

• What would be the latitude and longitude directions in Australia?

• Remember: Latitude always comes first, then longitude

Prime Meridian ?

If you said South and East , you’re right!

What is our coordinate (latitude and longitude)?

• What would be the latitude and longitude directions for Kansas?

• Manhattan’s Coordinates are:

• 39°N, 96°W

Y

X

90°S

90°N

Battleship• To practice using Latitude and

Longitude we are going to play battleship!

• The battleship game uses a grid just like the one on a map– You are going to place you

five ships on your top grid• Letters = Latitude• Numbers= Longitude

– Your partner is going to guess coordinate to try and sink your ship

• The bottom grid can be used to keep track of the coordinates you have guessed

• You must say your coordinates correctly!!!!

– A North (lat), 2 West (long)– G South (lat), 7 East (long)

LATITUDE

LATITUDE

LONGITUDE

LONGITUDE

D D

B B B B

N

S

EW

Map Practice

• What cities are found at these coordinates?1. 49⁰N, 2⁰ E2. 19⁰ N, 99⁰ W3. 39⁰ N, 77⁰ W

Answers….

1. Paris, France2. Mexico City, Mexico3. Washington, D.C.