The Equator is the starting point for measuring latitude.Īny circle parallel to the Equator is called a parallel of latitude. The circle perpendicular to this axis which is equidistant from the poles is known as the Equator. The imaginary line passing through the North Pole to the South Pole is the Earth’s rotation axis. Since it is known form Ancient Greeks time that Earth is a spherical object rather than a flat surface, to determine the position on the Earth, reference points and circles are defined. The Equator and Prime Meridian are the reference planes used to define latitude and longitude. Latitude and Longitude are the angles measuring North to South and East to West. These coordinates values are measured in degrees, and represent angular distances calculated from the center of the Earth. Similarly, any point on the earth can be defined with a pair of numbers which are called geographic coordinates (latitude, Longitude) assuming that Earth is Sphere. West: The direction opposite to the Earth's rotation is West.Ĭartesian coordinates is a point defined by x and y (a pair of numbers) in a plane. Describing positions on the surface of the Earth in Latitude and Longitude are the most common representation of spatial data and is called Geographic Coordinate Systems.Įast: The direction parallel to the Equator and toward which the Earth's rotation is Geographical coordinate System (Global Coordinate Systems) (i.e., Latitude and Longitude values, in degrees)įor sufficient accuracy to allow global exploration, navigation and mapping earth is considered as a spherical for Mathematical Modeling. But when maps represent a bigger area, Curvature of Earth has to be considered and hence there is a need of the geographical coordinate system. When the survey is done for less then 10 Kms, variation due to curvature of the earth will be insignificant and flat earth models can be used. So the Cartesian coordinate system cannot be used to represent Earth Surface as Earth has a Spherical Surface. Each reference line is called a coordinate axis or just axis of the system, and the point where they meet is its origin, usually at the ordered pair (0,0)Įarth is not a Flat Surface.
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