How to Read Latitude and Longitude on Map

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Latitude and longitude are measurements of location on the globe. If you know how to read latitude and longitude on a map, you lot can decide the geographic coordinates of whatsoever spot on the map. While online maps make it easy to make up one's mind latitude and longitude with the click of a button, sometimes information technology is helpful to know how to do it on paper. In club to read latitude and longitude correctly, you lot must get-go understand the basic concepts behind these measurements. Once y'all have the basics downward, learn how to place latitude and longitude markers on a map and pinpoint exact locations.

1. 1

   Go familiar with the concept of latitude. Breadth is a measure out of distance north or south of the equator, which is an imaginary horizontal line effectually the verbal mid-point of the earth between the 2 poles. The earth is divided up into 180 latitude lines on either side of the equator, called parallels. These parallels run horizontally effectually the earth, parallel to the equator. 90 of them are north of the equator, while the other ninety are south of it.^[1]

2. 2

   Learn the definition of longitude. Longitude is a measure of distance eastward or due west of an imaginary vertical line that runs downwardly the exterior of the globe from the North Pole to the Southward Pole, chosen the prime number top. The prime acme could have been chosen to exist anywhere, only there is an international agreement that the meridian that runs through Greenwich, England, is considered the official prime number meridian, with 0° longitude. Longitude lines are a series of vertical lines from North Pole to the South Pole, also called meridians considering every place touched past the same meridian take midday at the same fourth dimension. In that location are 360 meridians on either side of the prime meridian, with 180 of them located east of the prime meridian, and the other 180 located to the west of it.^[two]

   • The top on the opposite side of the earth from the prime tiptop is called the anti-meridian.^[3]

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3. 3

   Examine the units of measurement used for latitude and longitude. The measurements of latitude and longitude are usually expressed in degrees (°), minutes (′), or seconds (″). The unabridged distance from i parallel to another or 1 meridian to another is 1°. To produce even more than accurate measurements, each caste can be further divided upwards into 60 minutes, and each minute into lx seconds (for a full of iii,600 seconds per degree).^[4]

   • Breadth and longitude are measured in degrees rather than absolute units of measurement (such as miles or kilometers) considering the Earth is spherical. While the distance between degrees of breadth is abiding (threescore nautical miles or 111.12 km), the Earth's shape causes the distance between degrees of longitude to subtract as you approach the poles.^[5]

4. 4

   Measure breadth and longitude relative to the 0 point. When measuring breadth in either direction, the equator is considered the starting point, at 0° breadth. Too, the prime meridian is the starting point for measures of longitude, representing 0° longitude. Every measure of latitude or longitude is expressed in terms of how far it is from the origin point in either direction.^[half-dozen]

   • For case, the Northward Pole is at 90°N, meaning information technology is 90° north of the equator.
   • The antimeridian is at 180° either e or west from the prime meridian.
   • The Not bad Sphinx of Giza in Arab republic of egypt is located at 29°58′31″N, 31°8′15″E. This means information technology is but under thirty° north of the equator in latitude, and about 31° eastward of the prime peak in longitude.

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1. ane

   Find a map with latitude and longitude lines. Non all maps point latitude and longitude. You are nigh likely to find them on maps of large areas, such equally atlas maps, or on smaller maps that are designed to reverberate the terrain extremely accurately, such as topographic maps. If you are in the U.s.a., detailed topographic maps of near regions are available through the US Geological Survey.

2. 2

   Pinpoint the location you are interested in. Have look at the map, and locate the feature or surface area for which yous would like to know the coordinates. Marker the exact spot y'all are interested in with a pin or a pencil mark.

3. 3

   Locate the latitude and longitude markers. Breadth is indicated on a map by a serial of evenly-spaced horizontal lines running from one side of the map to the other, while longitude is indicated by a series of evenly-spaced vertical lines running from top to bottom. Look for numbers along the edges of the map giving coordinates for each line. These numbers are called "graticules."^[7]

   • Latitude graticules are marked along the east and west edges of the map. Longitude graticules are marked on the north and south edges.
   • Depending on the scale of your map, the graticules may marker fractions of degrees rather than whole degrees. For instance, there may exist a Graticule marked at every minute within a degree instead of every degree (eastward.grand., 32°0′, 32°1′, and so on).
   • The map should besides indicate where the latitude and longitude depicted are relative to the equator and prime tiptop, respectively (e.m., Northward or South, E or Due west).
   • Take care not to confuse the latitude and longitude lines with UTM lines, another type of filigree coordinate organization frequently found on maps. UTM numbers are ordinarily marked in a smaller text (and without caste symbols) forth the edges of the map, and UTM gridlines may exist marked in a different color from latitude and longitude lines.

4. iv

   Use a ruler to marker the latitude of your point. Take a ruler and a pencil and mark a level horizontal line from your bespeak to the nearest east or w edge of the map. Brand certain your line is parallel to the nearest latitude line on the map.

5. 5

   Draw another line to mark the longitude of the point. Starting from the aforementioned point, use the ruler and pencil to draw a direct vertical line to the nearest northward or south edge of the map. Make sure your line is parallel to the closest longitude line.

6. 6

   Estimate the latitude and longitude of your point using the graticules. Depending on the scale of the map, y'all may be able to estimate the coordinates of your betoken down to the second. Wait at where your breadth and longitude lines intersect the coordinate lines on the edge of the map, and estimate the coordinates by their position relative to the closest graticules.

   • If your map shows seconds, find the 2nd closest to where each line intersects the breadth or longitude scale at the edge of the map. For example, if your latitude line falls nearly 5″ above the 32°20′N line, your bespeak is at a breadth of approximately 32°20′5″North.
   • If your map shows minutes, but non seconds, then you can estimate your latitude or longitude to inside 6 seconds by dividing the space between each graticule into 10ths. If your longitude line falls about two/10 to the left of the 120°xiv′E line, then the longitude is roughly 120°14′12″E.

7. seven

   Put your measurements together to decide the coordinates. Geographic coordinates are the identify where the latitude and longitude lines converge on a unmarried signal. Look at the numbers y'all got for the latitude and longitude of your point, and put them together (e.g., 32°20′5″N, 120°14′12″E).^[viii]

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Add New Question

• Question

  How do you read latitude and longitude on a map?

  

  Drew Hawkins1

  Community Answer

  Employ a map with latitude and longitude lines and pinpoint the location you're trying to notice coordinates for. Detect the latitude and longitude markers, and use a ruler and a pencil to draw a line from your point to the nearest e or w edge of the map. Then, draw a vertical line from your point to the nearest north or south border of the map. So, take the numbers you got for the latitude and longitude of your indicate and put them together. For case, y'all could end up with 32°20′5″N, 120°fourteen′12″E equally your coordinates.

• Question

  How do I find my exact coordinates?

  

  Drew Hawkins1

  Customs Reply

  If you've got a smartphone, you tin can get to Google Maps and observe your verbal coordinates. If you're using a map with longitude and breadth lines, stick a pivot where you're located. Then, draw a straight horizontal line from your betoken to the east or westward border of the map. And so, draw a vertical line from your location to the northward or southward edge of the map. Put together the 2 coordinates to observe your position.

• Question

  Is latitude vertical or horizontal?

  

  Drew Hawkins1

  Community Answer

  Latitude lines run horizontally beyond the Earth and are parallel to the equator. They tin besides be called parallels of breadth. Longitude lines run from n to south and are perpendicular to the equator. An easy way to remember which is which is to think of longitude as "long" similar hair that hangs downwardly. Longitude lines hang downwards over the Earth from north to southward and latitude run beyond information technology, parallel to the equator.

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Article Summary Ten

Latitude and longitude are measurements of location on the globe. To observe breadth on a map, wait for a serial of evenly-spaced horizontal lines with numbers along the edges. Alternatively, to find longitude, look for a series of vertical lines from the North Pole to the S Pole. When y'all're set up to put your knowledge to the exam, pick the location you're interested in. Then, detect the breadth and longitude markers that run along the top and side of the map. Use a ruler to make a line going up and another ane going to the side of the indicate to mark the measurements for your location. To learn how to put your measurements together to discover the coordinates of your location, keep reading!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Read-Latitude-and-Longitude-on-a-Map#:~:text=Latitude%20is%20indicated%20on%20a,giving%20coordinates%20for%20each%20line.

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