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Reference Lines on Earth, Continued
Parallels of
Latitude
Parallels are the small circles
around and on Earth’s surface.
For navigation, parallels of
latitude have been established.
They are all parallel to the
plane of the Equator. Figure
1-7 illustrates parallels of
latitude. Since they are all
parallel to the Equator, latitude
can be measured towards the
North Pole and South Pole.
How Latitude is Latitude is
Measured
measured in
degrees (°),
minutes ('), and
seconds (") north or
south of the
Equator.
Measurements of
latitude cannot
exceed 90° in either
direction. This is
due to the fact that
the Equator is
always
perpendicular (at a
right angle) from
the great circle that
forms the plane
through the North
Pole and South Pole.
Figure 1-7. Examples of parallels of
latitude.
Figure 1-8. Measurement of latitude.
Figure 1-8 illustrates this clearly. Do not confuse angular expressions of
minutes and seconds with units of time because they are unrelated.
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