The Earth's Grid: Latitude & Longitude

Vocabulary flashcards focusing on the geographical grid system, coordinate measurements, and significant parallels of latitude.

Equator

The line that separates Earth into the North and South hemispheres.

Prime Meridian

The line that separates Earth into the Eastern and Western hemispheres.

Latitude

A measurement based on the equator that is measured North or South from $0^\text{o}$ to $90^\text{o}$.

Parallels of Latitude

East-west running lines measured along the equator that circle the Earth and never cross.

Longitude

A measurement based on the Prime Meridian that is measured East or West from $0^\text{o}$ to $180^\text{o}$.

Parallels of Longitude

North-south running lines that all originate at the North pole and end at the South pole.

North & South Pole

Points of latitude (not parallels) located above the Earth's rotational spin axis.

Tropic of Cancer

A special parallel located at $23\frac{1}{2}^\text{o} \text{N}$ that marks the northernmost latitude where sunlight strikes the Earth's surface in a straight line.

Tropic of Capricorn

A special parallel located at $23\frac{1}{2}^\text{o} \text{S}$ that marks the southernmost latitude.

Arctic Circle

A special parallel located at $66\frac{1}{2}^\text{o} \text{N}$ that marks the boundary of seasonal sunlight and darkness occurring around the North pole.

Antarctic Circle

A special parallel located at $66\frac{1}{2}^\text{o} \text{S}$ that marks the boundary of seasonal sunlight and darkness occurring around the South pole.