Geographical Coordinates: The Basics of Latitude and Longitude
This page introduces the core concepts of współrzędne geograficzne (geographical coordinates), specifically szerokość geograficzna (latitude) and długość geograficzna (longitude). These coordinates are crucial for accurately pinpointing locations on the Earth's surface.
The page features a visual representation of the Earth's coordinate system, illustrating how latitude and longitude lines intersect to create a global grid. This grid allows for precise location identification anywhere on the planet.
Definition: Szerokość geograficzna (latitude) is defined as the angular distance of a point north or south of the Earth's equator, measured in degrees.
Definition: Długość geograficzna (longitude) is the angular distance of a point east or west of the Prime Meridian, also measured in degrees.
The diagram on the page clearly shows the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) and the Equator (0° latitude), which serve as the reference lines for measuring geographical coordinates.
Highlight: The intersection of latitude and longitude lines creates a unique set of coordinates for any location on Earth, enabling precise geographical positioning.
The page also illustrates how latitude lines (parallels) run horizontally, while longitude lines (meridians) run vertically, forming a comprehensive grid system around the globe.
Example: To znajdź współrzędne geograficzne (find geographical coordinates) of a specific location, one would determine its distance from both the Equator (for latitude) and the Prime Meridian (for longitude).
This visual and textual explanation provides a solid foundation for understanding how geographical coordinates work, setting the stage for more detailed exploration of their applications in navigation, cartography, and geospatial analysis.
