Latitude and longitude

Latitude and longitude What is latitude? takes notes from PowerPoint slides about latitude Why is latitude important?

Latitude and longitude Look at the U.S. map and find the lines running across and up and down the page. The lines across the page are lines of latitude, and the lines up and down the page are lines of longitude. Why these lines might have been drawn on the map? Are these real lines on the ground?

Latitude and longitude Latitude and longitude can be used to make observations about location and generalizations about climate.

Latitude and longitude Latitude describes a point’s position on Earth’s surface in relation to the equator. Imaginary circles called parallels of latitude run around Earth parallel to the equator.

Latitude and longitude Latitude, angular distance of any point on the surface of the earth north or south of the equator. The equator is latitude 0°, and the North Pole and South Pole are latitudes 90°N and 90°S, respectively. The length of one degree of latitude averages about 69 mi (110 km); it increases slightly from the equator to the poles as a result of the earth's polar flattening. An imaginary line on the earth's surface connecting all points equidistant from the equator (and thus at the same latitude) is called a parallel of latitude.

Latitude and longitude Latitude (con’t) On most globes and maps parallels are usually shown in multiples of 5°. Because of their special meanings, four fractional parallels are also shown. These are the Tropic of Cancer (23 1/2°N) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23 1/2°S), marking the farthest points north and south of the equator where the sun's rays fall vertically (see tropics), and the Arctic Circle (66 1/2°N) and the Antarctic Circle (66 1/2°S), marking the farthest points north and south of the equator where the sun appears above the horizon each day of the year.

Latitude and longitude What is longitude? takes notes from PowerPoint slides about longitude Why is longitude important?

Latitude and longitude Longitude describes a point’s position on Earth’s surface in relation to the prime meridian. Meridians of longitude are imaginary half circles that run between the geographic North and South Poles.

Latitude and longitude The angular distance on the earth's surface measured along any latitude line such as the equator east or west of the prime meridian. A meridian of longitude is an imaginary line on the earth's surface from pole to pole; two opposite meridians form a great circle dividing the earth into two hemispheres. By international agreement, the meridian passing through the original site of the Royal Greenwich Observatory at Greenwich, England, is designated the prime meridian, and all points along it are at 0° longitude.

Latitude and longitude All other points on the earth have longitudes ranging from 0° to 180°E or from 0° to 180°W. Except where it is changed to account for populated areas, the international date line lies along the 180° meridian. Meridians of longitude and parallels of latitude together form a grid by which any position on the earth's surface can be specified.

Latitude and longitude Location describes the point on Earth’s surface expressed by means of a grid (absolute) or in relation (relative) to the position of other places.

Latitude and longitude Climate describes long-term trends in weather elements and atmospheric conditions.

Latitude and longitude Equator North Pole Arctic Circle South Pole Antarctic Circle Prime Meridian

Latitude and longitude Can you identify the following geographic points and imaginary lines on maps and globes: equator, Arctic Circle, Antarctic Circle, North Pole, South Pole, prime meridian?

Latitude and longitude Equator

Latitude and longitude Arctic Circle

Latitude and longitude Antarctic Circle

Latitude and longitude North Pole

Latitude and longitude South Pole

Latitude and longitude Prime Meridian

Latitude and longitude Research 2 different cities Where are we? What is the climate like? Latitude and climate

Latitude and longitude Project Research and compare the climates of two different cities with different latitudes. Draw conclusions about why climates differ at different latitudes. Discuss the relationship between distances north and south of the equator and their climates.

Latitude and longitude What is the climate like? Write down what you think you might be wearing if you were really in these places: I am standing outside at 60ºN latitude, and it is January. I am standing outside at 10ºS latitude, and it is February. I am standing outside at 35ºN latitude, and it is July. I am standing outside at 40ºS latitude, and it is August

Latitude and longitude Where are we? Find the location of Youngstown on a map, and figure out its latitude and longitude. Which city is at approximately 30ºN, 90ºW? Which city is at approximately 40ºN, 105ºW?

Latitude and longitude Latitude and climate What happens to the general climate patterns as latitude increases? What happens to the climate as you move farther from the equator? What happens to the climate as you move closer to the equator?

Latitude and longitude Useful? When might you use latitude and longitude?