Definition:Latitude/Terrestrial

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This page is about terrestrial latitude. For other uses, see latitude.

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 (terrestrial) latitude of $J$ is the (spherical) angle $\sphericalangle LOJ$ , where $O$ is the center of Earth.


Longitude-Terrestrial.png


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 known as

Terrestrial latitude is usually known in common parlance as just latitude.

However, this term also encompasses other measurements of latitude, for example celestial latitude and galactic latitude.

Hence on $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ the full term terrestrial latitude is preferred, so as to forestall ambiguity, unless the context is clear.


Also see

  • Results about terrestrial latitude can be found here.


Sources

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