Geographic coordinate system
Geographic Coordinate System
The Geographic Coordinate System (pronunciation: /dʒiːəˈɡræfɪk ˈkoʊɔːrdɪnɪt ˈsɪstəm/) is a system that enables every location on the Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position and two or three of the numbers represent a horizontal position; alternatively, a geographic position may be expressed in a combined three-dimensional Cartesian vector.
Etymology
The term "Geographic Coordinate System" is derived from the Greek words "geographia" meaning "description of the Earth", and "koordinat" meaning "of equal importance". The system was first used in ancient times for navigation and mapping the world.
Related Terms
- Latitude: The measurement of distance north or south of the Equator. It is one of the two components of the geographic coordinate system.
- Longitude: The measurement east or west of the prime meridian. It is the second component of the geographic coordinate system.
- Equator: An imaginary line drawn around the earth equally distant from both poles, dividing the earth into northern and southern hemispheres and constituting the parallel of latitude 0°.
- Prime Meridian: The planet's line of zero degrees longitude.
- Cartesian Coordinate System: A coordinate system that specifies each point uniquely in a plane by a pair of numerical coordinates, which are the signed distances to the point from two fixed perpendicular oriented lines, measured in the same unit of length.
- Vector: A quantity having direction as well as magnitude, especially as determining the position of one point in space relative to another.
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