1. Locating Positions on the Earth’s Surface

2. Coordinate System
Surface grid used to locate any position on the Earth
Latitude and Longitude

3. System uses two reference points:
Equator – (00 latitude)
Imaginary line that circles the earth
The angular distance north or south of the equator is called latitude
Lines of latitude are parallel to each other
2. Prime Meridian (00 longitude)
Runs from the north pole to the south pole through Greenwich, England
The angular distance east or west of the Prime Meridian is called longitude.
Longitude lines meet at the poles and run north to south

4. Lines of latitude and longitude on the GlobeP R I M E D A N
Equator--

5. Globe

6. Globe to Mercator

7. Notice the distortion in the polar regions.
South America is actually 9 times the size of Greenland

8. An area of the world will always be distorted with these projections.

9. Projections
Map Projections.asf

11. Distance using Latitude
One degree of latitude = 111km
Each degree is divided into 60 minutes (60’) Each minute = 1.85km
Each minute is divided into 60 seconds (60”)
420 30’ 15” N is read as 42 degrees, 30 minutes and 15 seconds north
This means the location is 4718km north of the equator

12. Distance using Longitude
At the equator, one degree of longitude = 111km
As you go towards the poles, this distance decreases