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.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions
Define What latitude is.
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.
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.
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.
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
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Cross-cutting context
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- XCT
- Domain
- XCT.QLT
- Other names and narrower kinds
- south latitude, north latitude, geocentric latitude, corrected mean latitude
What it is Filled
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.
Why it exists Filled
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.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Equator as origin
- Multiple definitions by reference surface
- Determines climate zones
- Measured by celestial and satellite methods
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Mix datums or latitude definitions so that positions shift without notice.
- Swap latitude and longitude or drop the hemisphere sign in navigation or emergency data.
- Publish precise latitudes of private homes or sensitive sites without a reason.
Only with a human decision
- Relying on coordinates for search and rescue or emergency dispatch.
May
- Compute and convert latitudes, stating the datum and whether geodetic, geocentric or astronomical.
- Check coordinates for range and sign errors before use.
Moral aspects Filled
- Coordinate errors can send rescuers to the wrong place.
- Precise positions can expose people to surveillance or harm.
Who is affected
- Travellers and crews
- Emergency services
- People at located addresses
Owners Filled
Steward
Nobody owns a coordinate; geodetic agencies define the reference systems.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q107715 - registry parent class
- Q11352 - registry parent class
related
- angle - in registry terms
- physical quantity - in registry terms
- longitude - in geographic coordinates
- reference ellipsoid - for geodetic latitude
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.latitude
- Wikidata: Q34027 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34027)
- notation: degrees N or S, or signed decimal degrees
Direct properties not applicable Not applicable
- range: 0 to 90 degrees - north or south
- length of one degree: about 111 km - varies slightly with latitude
Plane XCT: no invented physical properties.
Recognition optional Filled
- Angle north or south of the equator
- Geodetic, geocentric and astronomical kinds
- Longitude is east-west; parallels are the lines of constant latitude
- Not a visible object; parallels drawn on maps and globes.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- explain definitions and notation
- relay measurement methods
- describe role in climate and navigation
- distinguish kinds of latitude
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Confusing latitude kinds
- Datum mismatches
- Sign and hemisphere errors
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- World Geodetic System and other datums
- ISO 6709 for geographic point locations
- Nautical conventions for latitude notation
Context of use required Filled
- Locating positions north or south on the Earth.
- 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
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q34027: latitude - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Latitude - general description of the item
Open questions
- 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?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q34027/spec.json