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In normal aspect, these map regularly-spaced meridians to equally spaced vertical lines, and parallels to horizontal lines. Pseudocylindrical In normal aspect, these map the central meridian and parallels as straight lines. Other meridians are curves (or possibly straight from pole to equator), regularly spaced along parallels. Conic
If these lines are a parallel of latitude, as in conical projections, it is called a standard parallel. The central meridian is the meridian to which the globe is rotated before projecting. The central meridian (usually written λ 0) and a parallel of origin (usually written φ 0) are often used to define the origin of the map projection. [22] [23]
Lines of constant latitude, or parallels, run east-west as circles parallel to the equator. Latitude and longitude are used together as a coordinate pair to specify a location on the surface of the Earth. On its own, the term "latitude" normally refers to the geodetic latitude as defined below.
A circle of latitude or line of latitude on Earth is an abstract east–west small circle connecting all locations around Earth (ignoring elevation) at a given latitude coordinate line. Circles of latitude are often called parallels because they are parallel to each other; that is, planes that contain any of these circles never intersect each ...
The figure below shows a point P at latitude φ and longitude λ on the globe and a nearby point Q at latitude φ + δφ and longitude λ + δλ. The vertical lines PK and MQ are arcs of meridians of length Rδφ. [d] The horizontal lines PM and KQ are arcs of parallels of length R(cos φ)δλ.
Geodetic latitude and geocentric latitude have different definitions. Geodetic latitude is defined as the angle between the equatorial plane and the surface normal at a point on the ellipsoid, whereas geocentric latitude is defined as the angle between the equatorial plane and a radial line connecting the centre of the ellipsoid to a point on the surface (see figure).
The 0° parallel of latitude is designated the Equator, the fundamental plane of all geographic coordinate systems. The Equator divides the globe into Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The longitude λ of a point on Earth's surface is the angle east or west of a reference meridian to another meridian
The term is almost always used to specifically refer to the parallels and meridians of latitude and longitude respectively in the geographic coordinate system. In modern usage, graticules are contrasted with grids , which display the eastings and northings of another coordinate reference system , such as Universal Transverse Mercator ...