Geographic latitude of the object. How to determine the latitude

The ability to "read" a map is a very interesting and useful activity. Today, when using innovative technologies, you can virtually visit every corner of the world, the possession of such skills is very rare. Geographic latitude is studied in the school curriculum, but without constant practice it is impossible to consolidate the theoretical knowledge obtained in the general education course. Cartographic skills develop not only spatial thinking and imagination, but also are a necessary base for many complex disciplines. Those who want to acquire a navigator, geodesist, architect and military profession simply need to know the basic principles of working with the map and plan. The definition of geographical latitude is an obligatory skill that an amateur of real travel must possess and just an educated person.

globe

Before proceeding to the algorithm for determining geographic magnitudes, it is necessary to get acquainted with the globe and the map in more detail. Because it is on them that they will have to train their skills. The globe is a reduced model of our Earth, on which its surface is depicted. The author of the very first model considers M. Beheim - the creator of the famous "Earth apple" in the 15th century. The history of the development of cartographic knowledge has information about other famous globes.

• Multitouch. This interactive model is a modern invention that allows you to "visit" anywhere in the world without spending much time and effort!
• Heavenly. This globe shows the location of cosmic lights - a mirror image. After all, when we admire the beautiful night sky, we are "inside" the dome, and on this globe are forced to look outside!
• One of the collectors, S.Missine, keeps a globe of North America, carved from an ostrich egg. This is one of the very first maps of this continent.

On the globe, you can accurately determine the geographical latitude, because it is the least distortion. But for greater reliability it is necessary to use a special flexible ruler.

Cards

The globe is not very convenient to take with you on a trip, besides, it becomes all the more useless, the smaller the size. And over time people began to use the map. Of course, it has more errors, because it is very difficult to accurately depict the convex shape of the Earth on a sheet of paper, but it is more convenient and easy to use. The maps have several classifications, but we will dwell on their difference in scale, since we are talking about acquiring the skills of determining the coordinates.

• Large-scale. The so-called drawings with the scale (M) from 1: 100 000 to 1:10 000 are called. If the map has M 1: 5 000, and larger, then it is already called a plan.
• Medium-scale. So called the drawings of the Earth's surface, which have a MM of 1: 1 000 000 to 1: 200 000.
• Small-scale. These are drawings with M 1: 1 000 000 and less, for example - MM 1: 2 000 000, 1:50 000 000, etc.

On a large-scale map, geographic latitude is the easiest to determine, since the image on it is more detailed. This is due to the fact that the lines of the degree grid are located at a small distance.

Geographic latitude

This is the angle between the zero parallel and the vertical line at a given point. The value obtained can only be within 90 degrees. It is important to remember: the equator divides our Earth into the southern and northern hemisphere. Therefore, the latitude of all points of the Earth, which are located above the longest parallel, will be the north, and lower - the southern one. How to determine the geographical breadth of an object? It is necessary to look closely at which parallel it is located. If it is not indicated, then it is necessary to calculate the distance between neighboring lines and determine the degree of the desired parallel.

Geographical Longitude

This is the angle between the plane of the meridian of a particular point of the Earth and the zero meridian, which has the name Greenwich. All objects to the right of it are considered to be eastern, and to the left - to the west. Longitude indicates on which meridian the desired object is located. If the determined point is not on the meridian indicated on the map, then we proceed in the same way as in the case of determining the desired parallel.

Geographical address

It is available for any object on our Earth. The intersection of parallels and meridians on a map or globe is called a grid (degree), along which the coordinates of the desired point are determined. Knowing them, you can not only determine the place where the object is located, but also relate its position to others. Possessing information about the geographical address of a particular point, it is possible to correctly apply the boundaries of territories to contour maps.

The five main latitudes

On any map, the main parallels are highlighted, which facilitate the determination of coordinates. The areas that lie between these main latitudinal lines, depending on the location, can be included in the following areas: the Arctic, the tropics, the equatorial and the temperate.

• The equator is the longest parallel. The length of the lines located above or below it becomes smaller to the poles. What is the geographical latitude of the equator? It is 0 degrees, because it is considered the reference point of the parallels to the north and south. Territories that are located from the equator to the tropics are called equatorial regions.

• The northern tropic is the main parallel, which is always marked on the world maps of the Earth. It is located at 23 degrees 26 minutes and 16 seconds north of the equator. Another name for this parallel is the Tropic of Cancer.
• The southern tropic is a parallel that is located 23 degrees 26 minutes and 16 seconds south of the equator. It also has a second name - the Tropic of Capricorn. Territories that are located between these lines and the equator are called tropical regions.
• The northern polar circle is located above the equator at 66 degrees 33 minutes and 44 seconds. It limits the territory beyond which the time of the night increases, closer to the pole it reaches 40 days.

• The Southern Arctic Circle. Its latitude is 66 degrees 33 minutes and 44 seconds. This parallel is also the boundary behind which such phenomena as polar night and day begin. The territories that are located between these lines and the tropics are called temperate regions, and behind them - the polar regions.