Navigating the World: Understanding Latitudes, Longitudes, and Time
by Yuvi K - December 16, 2023
What Are Latitudes, Longitudes and Time Zones?
The sphere we live in is divided geographically into circles running through North and South Poles – the lines of longitude – and circles running around the Equator – the lines of latitude. Together, they allow us to precisely pinpoint geographical positions and coordinates on the globe, which is an indispensable ability for navigation, communication, computing, etc.
Let’s first take a look at the lines of longitude, also known as meridians. They complement the latitudes and run vertically around the globe from the North Pole to the South Pole. Zero degrees longitude is the line which passes through Greenwich, London – this is also known as the Prime Meridian and is recognized as the origin of longitude around the world. From there, the eastern hemisphere is expressed in degrees east and the western hemisphere in degrees west. The complete 360-degrees circle around the globe is divided into 24 time-zones, with the Prime Meridian being the start of the Greenwich mean time (GMT).
Meanwhile, the lines of latitude are horizontal lines that stretch around the globe parallel to the Equator. The Equator is defined as the precise point where the planet is equally distant from the North and South Poles – 0 degrees latitude, known as the Equator. The degrees continue to 90 degrees – parallel to the North Pole – and -90 degrees – parallel to the South Pole. Again, these circles form the basis of navigation and computing around the world.
How to Read Latitudes and Longitude?
In order to locate an area, we need to take into account not one but two coordinates: the latitude and the longitude. To understand the coordinates of a particular location, we have to look at the following template:
Latitude, Longitude
Latitude is written first and then longitude. Latitude will be represented as a number, followed by either ‘N’ or ‘S’, indicating whether the position lies in the northern or southern hemisphere. Similarly, Longitude will be represented as a number, followed by either ‘E’ or ‘W’, indicating if it is in the eastern or western hemisphere.
For example, 28° N, 24° E, will represent the coordinates of India. This would be read as ‘28 degrees North, 24 degrees East’.
How to Calculate Time by Latitude and Longitude?
Time zones around the world are expressed as offsets from the standard time, GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) and UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). This offset is based on the longitude of a given location. Now, each degree of longitude is equivalent to 4 minutes of time. For instance, a location which is longitude 10° W would have an offset of 40 minutes from GMT.
The global time zones are then divided into thirds and expressed in terms of UTC, or what is referred to as ‘Universal Coordinated Time’. Thus, positions east of the Prime Meridian are ahead of GMT and those west are behind GMT.
How to Use Latitude and Longitude to Navigate the World?
Navigating on the Earth’s surface is largely a matter of reading and understanding the system of lines of latitudes and longitudes. By using these coordinates, it is possible to precisely determine the location of any point on the globe. Moreover, it is possible to calculate the exact amount of time, or UTC offset based on these coordinates. Knowing this, using a global positioning system, it is possible to navigate to any place on the Earth’s surface with minimal deviation and maximum accuracy.
Conclusion
Latitudes and longitudes form the basis of geographical navigation in today’s world. They help to determine the exact geographical coordinates and time zones of a particular location on the globe. A savvy navigator can use the intricate system of latitudes and longitudes to calculate the exact amount of time difference and accurately navigate across continents with a GPS-enabled device.
