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Why is there a difference in nautical miles 1 degree longitude between the equator and the poles?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Because all 360 degrees of longitude are evenly distributed around the whole Earth,
but that whole distance around shrinks as you move from the equator to the poles.
Along the equator, one degree of longitude is about 69 miles (111 km). That distance
progressively shrinks as you move away from the equator, and exactly at the poles,
it's zero! All longitudes converge (come together) at the poles.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
The Earth is not a perfect sphere; it is slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator due to its rotation. This shape, known as an oblate spheroid, causes the distance between lines of longitude to decrease towards the poles. As a result, there is a difference in the number of nautical miles for 1 degree of longitude between the equator and the poles.
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What is one degree of latitude equal to in nautical miles?
The lines of longitude radiate out from the poles. At their point of origin, i.e. at 90o latitude, there is no distance at all between the lines! However, at latitude 89o, very near the poles, the distance between the respective 'one degree' lines of longitude is about one nautical mile. At latitude 48.37o the distance along the line of latitude is 40 nautical miles And a 1o longitude difference along the equator (0o latitude) represents a distance of about 60.1 nautical miles. For calculator, see Related links below this box
Difference between equator and prime miridian?
The differences are that the Equator in zero line of latitude. While the Prime Meridian is zero line of longitude. Latitude is horizontal and parallel to the Equator, and longitude runs from pole to pole.
Why is cosine used in finding ditance traveed on a latitude?
The distance along one degree of longitude is 60 nautical miles at the equator and less at latitudes away from the equator. In fact it is 60 nautical miles times the cosine of the latitude, so 60 at the equator zero at the poles, and 30 nautical miles at 60 degrees north or south..
How many miles apart are 175 west longitude and 179 east longitude?
There is no way to tell. Their precise latitude locations would enable this computation. Note that unlike N and S latitude lines, which have a fixed distance between degree lines, the spacing between longitude lines varies greatly with latitude. Close to the poles, there is practically no distance between 175° W and 179° E -- at the equator, the lines are separated by about 360 nautical miles, which is about 414.3 miles or 666.7 kilometers.
What is the latitude and longitude for equator?
The equator is a latitude line, so it has no specific longitude. The equator is at 0o north or south. There are many points on the equator, so every point on the equator has a different longitude.
What is one degree of latitude equal to in nautical miles?
The lines of longitude radiate out from the poles. At their point of origin, i.e. at 90o latitude, there is no distance at all between the lines! However, at latitude 89o, very near the poles, the distance between the respective 'one degree' lines of longitude is about one nautical mile. At latitude 48.37o the distance along the line of latitude is 40 nautical miles And a 1o longitude difference along the equator (0o latitude) represents a distance of about 60.1 nautical miles. For calculator, see Related links below this box
Difference between equator and prime miridian?
The differences are that the Equator in zero line of latitude. While the Prime Meridian is zero line of longitude. Latitude is horizontal and parallel to the Equator, and longitude runs from pole to pole.
How many miles are meridians spaced?
Meridians are not evenly spaced. They are closer together at extreme latitudes, and farther apart near the equator. Near the equator, each minute of longitude is approximately one nautical mile (6076 feet). At other latitudes, the number of nautical miles between minutes of longitude is approximately the cosine of the latitude.
What are the lines between the latitude and the longitude?
The Equator
Why is cosine used in finding ditance traveed on a latitude?
The distance along one degree of longitude is 60 nautical miles at the equator and less at latitudes away from the equator. In fact it is 60 nautical miles times the cosine of the latitude, so 60 at the equator zero at the poles, and 30 nautical miles at 60 degrees north or south..
What is the difference between lines of longitude and lines of latitude?
Firstly, different maps or atlases draw lines of latitude and longitude in varying degrees apart. Although most maps have differences of 10 degrees apart, atlases can be as close as 1 or 2 degrees. Secondly, you might be referring to the major lines of latitude and longitude, such as the Equator and the Prime Meridian. Some maps that are very small only show the major lines of latitude and longitude. The difference between the equator and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn is 23.5 degrees, while the difference between the equator and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles is 66.5 degrees. The difference between the Prime Meridian and the International Date Line is 180 degrees.
What is the difference between the lines of latitude and longitude?
Firstly, different maps or atlases draw lines of latitude and longitude in varying degrees apart. Although most maps have differences of 10 degrees apart, atlases can be as close as 1 or 2 degrees. Secondly, you might be referring to the major lines of latitude and longitude, such as the Equator and the Prime Meridian. Some maps that are very small only show the major lines of latitude and longitude. The difference between the equator and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn is 23.5 degrees, while the difference between the equator and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles is 66.5 degrees. The difference between the Prime Meridian and the International Date Line is 180 degrees.
How many miles apart are 175 west longitude and 179 east longitude?
There is no way to tell. Their precise latitude locations would enable this computation. Note that unlike N and S latitude lines, which have a fixed distance between degree lines, the spacing between longitude lines varies greatly with latitude. Close to the poles, there is practically no distance between 175° W and 179° E -- at the equator, the lines are separated by about 360 nautical miles, which is about 414.3 miles or 666.7 kilometers.
What is A difference of 1 degree in longitude at the equator is equivalent to nearly?
111km
What is the degree of difference between each line of latitude and longitude?
Firstly, different maps or atlases draw lines of latitude and longitude in varying degrees apart. Although most maps have differences of 10 degrees apart, atlases can be as close as 1 or 2 degrees. Secondly, you might be referring to the major lines of latitude and longitude, such as the Equator and the Prime Meridian. Some maps that are very small only show the major lines of latitude and longitude. The difference between the equator and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn is 23.5 degrees, while the difference between the equator and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles is 66.5 degrees. The difference between the Prime Meridian and the International Date Line is 180 degrees.
How many miles are in degree?
One degree of latitude, and one degree of longitude along the equator only, is equivalent to roughly 69.1 miles (111 km). One degree of latitude, and of longitude on the equator only, is also equal to about 60 nautical miles.
How many miles are in one degree?
One degree of latitude, and one degree of longitude along the equator only, is equivalent to roughly 69.1 miles (111 km). One degree of latitude, and of longitude on the equator only, is also equal to about 60 nautical miles.
