Positions on earth’s surface

In two dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, the position of a point is given by the intersection of x and y-coordinates. Similarly, the position of a point on the earth’s surface is given by the intersection of a latitude and a longitude. The position of any place on the earth surface is describe using the latitude and longitude on which it lies and is expressed in the form P(latitude, longitude).

Note that the latitude is stated first and then the longitude.

Example

Consider the diagram below and state the positions of points A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I

Solutions

A(0^o,20^oE)

B(75^oS, 20^o E)

C(75^oS, 0^o)

D(0^o, 0^o)

E(61^oN, 0^o)

F(61^oN,20^oE)

G(61^oN, 50^oE)

H(0^o, 50^oE)

The longitude of I and J is directly opposite the longitude 50^oE. They make a full circle thus the longitude SIJN is 180^o-50^o = 130^o .

I(75^oS, 130^oW)

J(61^oN, 130^oW)

Related topics

• Introduction to longitudes and latitudes
• Introducing latitudes
• Introduction to Longitudes

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