1. Latitude and Longitude
Finding Absolute Location

2. A map is set up like a graph.
Horizontal lines are lines of latitude
Vertical lines are lines of
longitude.
Equator
The X axis is the equator
Prime Meridian
The Y axis is the
Prime Meridian

3. Any location north of the equator is a NORTH LATITUDE
Any location south of the equator is a SOUTH LATITUDE

4. Any location west of the prime meridian is a WEST LONGITUDE
Any location east of the prime meridian is an EAST LONGITUDE

5. We can divide the Earth into quadrants

6. Latitude is the distance from the equator along the Y axis.
What is latitude?
Latitude is the distance
from the equator along the Y axis.
The north pole is 90° N
90°S 0°
The south pole is 90° S

7. Longitude is the distance from the prime meridian along the X axis.
What is longitude?
Longitude is the distance
from the prime meridian
along the X axis.
If you go half way around the world you will reach the 180° longitude line…also called the International Date Line
180° 0°
180°

8. Here are some things to remember:
> Latitude is written first and must always include N (north) or S (south) of the equator.
> Longitude is written next and must always include E (east) or W (west) of the prime meridian.
> Each degree of latitude or longitude can be divided into 60 minutes.
> A minute, as used here, is a unit of distance on the earth’s surface. It is not a unit of time.

9. What are the coordinates of location......A
60°N, 30°W
75°S, 75°E
15°S, 105°W
Each box on this map is 15°. With that in mind how can we identify specific locations
(red dots)? Remember, write latitude first!
What are the coordinates of location......A
What are the coordinates of location......B
What are the coordinates of location......C
But what about location D ? It’s in the middle of a box. What do we do now?