LATITUDE

LATITUDE

WHAT IS LATITUDE?

• It is a measurement of location North or South of the Equator on a globe.
• It is the angular distance measured in degrees.
• Equator is an imaginary line that divides the earth in Northern and Southern Hemisphere.
   

WHICH ARE IMPORTANT PARALLELS OF LATITUDES ?

• Parallels of latitudes are parallel circles from the equator up to both poles.
• The equator represents the zero degrees latitude.
• 90-degree north latitude marks the North Pole and 90 degrees south latitude marks the South Pole.
• Tropic of Cancer (23½° N) in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Tropic of Capricorn (23½° S) in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Arctic Circle at 66½° north of the Equator.
• Antarctic Circle at 66½° south of the Equator.

WHAT ARE THE LATITUDINAL HEAT ZONES OF THE EARTH ?

There are three Heat Zones on the Earth:

1. Torrid zone

• The mid-day sun is exactly overhead at least once a year on all latitudes between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
• Therefore, this zone receives the maximum heat.

2. Temperate zones

• The mid-day sun never shines overhead on any latitude beyond the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
• The angle of the sun’s rays goes on decreasing towards the poles.
• Therefore, this zone has moderate temperature.

3. Frigid zones

• Areas lying between the Arctic circle and the north pole in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Areas lying between the Antarctic circle and the south pole in the Southern hemisphere.
• The sun does not rise much above the horizon its rays are always slanting.
• Therefore, this zone is very cold.