Latitude and Longitude

hemisphere One-half of the globe; the Equator divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern hemispheres; the Prime Meridian divides it into Eastern and Western hemispheres

latitude Location north or south of the Equator, measured by imaginary lines (parallels) numbered in degrees north and south

Imaginary line that divides the Earth in half from north to south Equator Imaginary line that divides the Earth in half from north to south

Lines of Latitude Zero degrees latitude is the Equator Divides the earth into northern and southern hemispheres Called parallels

Based on celestial bodies (sun and stars) 23.5º North is the Tropic of Cancer 23.5º South is the Tropic of Capricorn Where the sun’s direct light on the tropic lines determines the seasons

longitude Location east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured by imaginary lines (meridians) numbered in degrees east and west

Prime Meridian Imaginary line that goes through Greenwich, England and divides the Earth in half from east to west

Lines of Longitude Zero degrees longitude is the Prime Meridian found at Greenwich in England Divides the earth into Eastern and Western hemispheres Called meridians

Based on time Approximately 180º longitude is the International Date Line

Seasons

Seasons Caused by the relationship of the Earth to the sun Amount of the sun’s energy that a particular part of the Earth receives is in direct relation to the movement of the Earth around the sun and the tilt of the Earth’s axis

The season in the Northern Hemisphere is directly opposite from the season in the Southern Hemisphere. Summer solstice is the longest day of the year (Around June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere when the direct rays of the sun strike the Tropic of Cancer).

Winter solstice is the shortest day of the year (Around December 22 in the Northern Hemisphere when the direct rays of the sun strike the Tropic of Capricorn) Midway between the solstices are the fall and spring equinoxes (September 23 and March 21 respectively)

Time Zones

Time Zones A time zone is a region on Earth that has a uniform standard time for legal, commercial and social purposes. Created as a result of railroad scheduling as each locality had it’s own time because of its geographical longitude.

Zones were created as a result of an international convention in 1884 The Prime Meridian (0⁰ longitude) is the starting point for figuring out time in the world or Greenwich Mean Time 180 degrees longitude is the International Date Line, where the new day begins