Definition:Latitude (Terrestrial)
Definition
Let $J$ be a point on Earth's surface that is not one of the two poles $N$ and $S$.
Let $\bigcirc NJS$ be a meridian passing through $J$, whose endpoints are by definition $N$ and $S$.
Let $\bigcirc NJS$ pass through the equator at $L$.
The latitude of $J$ is the (spherical) angle $\sphericalangle LOJ$ , where $O$ is the center of Earth.
If $J$ is in the northern hemisphere of Earth, the latitude is defined as latitude $n \degrees$ north, where $n \degrees$ denotes $n$ degrees (of angle), written $n \degrees \, \mathrm N$.
If $J$ is in the southern hemisphere of Earth, the latitude is defined as latitude $n \degrees$ south, written $n \degrees \, \mathrm S$.
At the North Pole, the latitude is $90 \degrees \, \mathrm N$.
At the South Pole, the latitude is $90 \degrees \, \mathrm S$.
Also see
Sources
- 1933: D.M.Y. Sommerville: Analytical Conics (3rd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text I$. Coordinates: $2$. Coordinates
- 1976: W.M. Smart: Textbook on Spherical Astronomy (6th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text I$. Spherical Trigonometry: $4$. Terrestrial latitude and longitude.
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): latitude: 1.
- 2008: Ian Stewart: Taming the Infinite ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $6$: Curves and Coordinates: Coordinate geometry today
- 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): latitude