Uses of Latitudes and Longitudes

Uses of Latitudes and Longitudes

Latitudes and longitudes have the following uses:

1. To show location on the map: Latitude and longitude lines are used to show location of points and regions on the Earth's surface. For example, Tanzania is located between latitude 1° and 12° South and between longitude 29° 30′ and 40° 35′ East as presented in Figure 4.

2. To measure distance on the map: When lines of latitude and longitude meet, they form a point of intersection. The point of intersection identifies or locates a particular point on the Earth's surface. Therefore, two points of intersection could be used to show location that can be used to measure the distance between them. Every point on the Earth's surface is an intersection point with some degrees of latitude and longitude. For example, point "A" is located at latitude 0° 00′ and longitude 35° 00′ East and point "B" is located at latitude 5° 00′ South and longitude 40° 00′ East. Due to the use of the latitudes and longitudes, the distance between these two points can be calculated as shown in Figure.

3. Longitudes determine days and dates of different places on the Earth with reference to the International Date Line.

4. To locate air and marine transport routes. It helps captains and pilots to locate the shortest routes to a destination.

5. Longitudes help to calculate local time of a particular place on the Earth's surface.

6. Latitudes help to identify the characteristics of climate of different areas on Earth depending on their distances from the Equator. Temperature decreases as you move away from the Equator towards the Northern or Southern Hemispheres.