Understanding Latitude and Longitude: A Guide to Geographic Coordinates

Longitude is a geographic coordinate that measures the distance of a point east or west of the prime meridian, which passes through Greenwich, England. It is expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds, with 0° being the prime meridian and 180° being the opposite side of the globe.

2. What is latitude ?
Latitude is a geographic coordinate that measures the distance of a point north or south of the equator. It is expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds, with 0° being the equator and 90° being the North or South Pole.

3. How do you convert between latitude and longitude?
To convert between latitude and longitude, you need to know that one degree of latitude is equal to 69 miles (111 kilometers) and one degree of longitude is equal to 59 miles (95 kilometers). This means that there are more degrees of longitude than latitude, as the Earth is longer from west to east than it is from north to south.

4. What is the difference between Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)?
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is a time standard that is based on the mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England. It is the basis for Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is a modern continuation of GMT. The main difference between GMT and UTC is that UTC is adjusted for leap seconds, while GMT is not.

5. What is the purpose of the prime meridian ?
The prime meridian is used as a reference point for measuring longitude and determining time zones. It passes through Greenwich, England, and is the basis for the coordinate system used to locate points on the Earth's surface.