What is the Difference Between Longitude and Latitude?

Latitude and longitude are geographic coordinates that help determine the location of any place on Earth's surface. They are both measured in degrees (°) and minutes (′) and together form a coordinate system used for navigation, cartography, and GPS systems. Here are the main differences between them:

• Latitude:
• Specifies a location's distance north or south of the equator.
• Represented by the Greek letter phi (Φ).
• Lines of latitude are horizontal and parallel to the equator.
• The equator is defined as 0 degrees, and latitudes range from 0 to 90 degrees.
• Positive latitude values indicate locations in the Northern hemisphere, while negative values indicate locations in the Southern hemisphere.
• Longitude:
• Specifies a location's distance east or west of the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England.
• Represented by the Greek letter lambda (λ).
• Lines of longitude are vertical and meridians.
• The distance per degree of longitude varies depending on the location, with the longest distance at the Equator (about 111.32 km or 69.17 miles) and the shortest distance at the poles (about 111.699 km or 69.41 miles).
• Longitude values are denoted by the letters E or W to represent direction, with positive values east of the Prime Meridian and negative values west of it.

When using coordinates, latitude typically comes first in alphabetical order and is also the first coordinate in a set. By understanding and using both latitude and longitude, one can accurately pinpoint locations on Earth's surface and navigate with precision.

Comparative Table: Longitude vs Latitude

The difference between longitude and latitude can be summarized in the following table:

In summary, latitude is related to the north-south position of a point on Earth's surface, while longitude describes the east-west location of a point. Latitude lines are parallel to the equator, and their lengths vary, while longitude lines are meridians that intersect the poles and have the same length. There are 180 lines of latitude and 360 lines of longitude. Latitude is represented by the Greek letter phi (ɸ), and longitude is represented by the Greek letter lambda (λ). Latitude divides the world into heat zones, and longitude is used to categorize time zones.