latitude
Let an agent explain latitude and its definitions, relay how it is measured and expressed, describe its role in navigation, mapping and climate, and distinguish geodetic from geocentric and other latitudes.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain latitude and its definitions, relay how it is measured and expressed, describe its role in navigation, mapping and climate, and distinguish geodetic from geocentric and other latitudes.
The angular distance of a point on the Earth surface north or south of the equator, measured from 0 degrees at the equator to 90 degrees at the poles, as geodetic latitude relative to the reference ellipsoid or, in other definitions, geocentric or astronomical latitude; latitude is one of the two coordinates of geographic position, determines climate zones and day length, and is measured today by satellite positioning and historically by observing the sun and stars.
What it is for: Locating positions north or south on the Earth.
It can be explain definitions and notation; relay measurement methods; describe role in climate and navigation; distinguish kinds of latitude.
Distinguishing features
Equator as origin
Multiple definitions by reference surface
Determines climate zones
Measured by celestial and satellite methods
What it looks like
Not a visible object; parallels drawn on maps and globes.
Physical character
range: 0 to 90 degrees - north or south
length of one degree: about 111 km - varies slightly with latitude
How it is recognised
Angle north or south of the equator
Geodetic, geocentric and astronomical kinds
Longitude is east-west; parallels are the lines of constant latitude
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is a kind of - in registry terms
is paired with - in geographic coordinates
is measured on - for geodetic latitude
In practice
Families and kinds
geodetic latitude
geocentric latitude
astronomical latitude
north and south latitude
corrected mean latitude and other navigational quantities
special parallels such as the tropics and polar circles
Identifiers
notation degrees N or S, or signed decimal degrees
Standards and regulation
World Geodetic System and other datums
ISO 6709 for geographic point locations
Nautical conventions for latitude notation
Failure modes and hazards
Confusing latitude kinds
Datum mismatches
Sign and hemisphere errors
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Define What latitude is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition and kinds.
Definition
Definition.
- What is latitude, and how do geodetic, geocentric and astronomical latitudes differ? definition
- Is the question about latitude, longitude or a specific parallel? boundary
Notation
Notation.
Notation
Notation.
- How is latitude written in degrees, minutes and seconds or decimal form, and with what standards? provenance
- Which entry fits geographic coordinate system? action
Measure Measurement.
Computation.
Methods
Methods.
Methods
Methods.
- How is latitude measured, from sextant observations to GNSS? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Compute
Calculation.
Compute
Compute.
- How are distances and conversions between latitude kinds computed? action
- What is the result for the values in question? measurement
Effects Climate and daylight.
Science.
Climate
Climate zones.
Climate
Climate.
- How does latitude determine climate zones and seasons? provenance
- Which entry fits climate zone? action
Daylight
Day length.
Daylight
Daylight.
- How does latitude affect day length and the position of the sun? provenance
- Which entry fits solar geometry? action
Context History and teaching.
Context.
History
History.
History
History.
- How did latitude measurement develop from ancient Greece to modern geodesy? provenance
- Which entry fits the history of navigation? action
Teach
Teaching.
Teach
Teaching.
- How is latitude taught, and which misconceptions arise? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Should geographic coordinate system be the primary entry?
- How should datum standards be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming kinds and navigational terms; should they be split off?