The principal geographical (and mathematical) concepts of longitude and latitude are used to pinpoint the exact location of features on the Earth’s surface. Since experts have used them in various scientific domains for ages, it may be simple to mix them up. Miners, explorers, and mariners are a few examples of these professionals.

Definitions

Longitude, typically stated in degrees and minutes, is the angular distance of a location east or west of the Greenwich meridian or west of the standard meridian of a celestial object. Meridians are arcs of equal longitude that connect sites on either side of the poles.

The Latitude coordinate indicates the north-south position of a point on the surface of the Earth or another celestial body. Latitude is measured as an angle, with 0° at the Equator and values ranging from -90° South Pole to 90° North Pole. As circles parallel to the Equator, lines of constant latitude, or parallels, run from east to west.

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Longitude vs. Latitude

The difference between the two is most apparent when considering that latitude denotes the north-south geographic coordinates that indicate a point’s distance from the Equator. Longitude refers to the geographic coordinate that suggests a site’s distance from the Prime Meridian on the east and west sides.

Comparison Chart