Determining Latitude and Longitude

Name ______Date ______Class ______

MappingEarth’sSurface ■ Enrich

Determining Latitude and Longitude

Follow these rules when writing the latitude and longitude of a place.

1.Always write the latitude first.

2.Always include an abbreviation for north or south of the equator and
east or west of the prime meridian. (N = north, S = south, E = east, and
W = west)

Here’s an example. Austin, Texas, is located at latitude 30 degrees north and
longitude 98 degrees west. This location is written as: 30° N 98° W .

Now look at the World Map with Latitude and Longitude in your
textbook. Since this map shows the whole world in a small space, it cannot
show much detail. This kind of map is called a small-scale map. Notice that
this small-scale map shows only every 15° of latitude and longitude. Find
Los Angeles on the map. To determine its latitude and longitude, you have
to estimate its position between labeled lines. For latitude, you can see it’s
between the lines for 30° N and 45° N, though it’s much closer to 30° N. For
longitude, you can see it’s between the lines for 105° W and 120° W, though
it’s much closer to 120° W. To determine the location of Los Angeles, you
have to estimate where it is between those lines. Write your estimate of the
location of Los Angeles: ______

The map on this page shows a much smaller area of
Earth’s surface, and therefore it can show greater detail.
This kind of map is called a large-scale map. In
determining latitude and longitude on this map, use the
line the city is closer to. Using this map, write your
estimate of the location of Los Angeles:
______

Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1.New Orleans, Louisiana, is located at 90° west longitude and 30° north
latitude. Write that location in the correct way.

2.What is the difference between a small-scale map and a large-scale map?

3.How were your estimates of the location of Los Angeles different when
using the map in your textbook and the map on this page? Explain the
difference.

4.Use an atlas to find the major U.S. cities at or near these locations:

a. 41° N 96° W; b. 41° N 74° W; c. 40° N 83° W; d. 41° N 112° W; e. 61° N
150° W .

5.Use an atlas to determine the latitude and longitude of the following
cities: a. Seattle, Washington; b. Boston, Massachusetts; c. Indianapolis,
Indiana; d. Tampa, Florida; and e. Honolulu, Hawaii.