definition
strict definition
latitude
The distance of any point north or south of the equator, measured in degrees.
The latitude of any point represents its exact distance north or south of the earth's equator in degrees, expressed in decimals. Points north of the equator are assigned positive latitudes, and points south are negative.
Latitude is one of two geocoordinates used to identify each point on the earth's surface; along with longitude and elevation it can single out any point on earth in three dimensions with respect to the equator, the Greenwich Line, and sea level.
The value describes an angle rather than a distance in meters along the surface. Longitude supplies the separate east-west coordinate; latitude supplies the north-south coordinate.
Related definitions
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altitude
The height of a point above or below the sea-level reference, expressed in meters with negative values below it. -
boundary
The outline of a region or the footprint of a structure, stored as a polygon of geographic coordinates. -
longitude
The distance of any point east or west of the Greenwich line, measured in degrees. -
pinpoint location
The most central balancing point within a boundary or footprint outline. For buildings, use a 'city' field if coordinates are unknown or unclear. -
zoom level
The scale at which an object should ideally appear on a map for optimal viewing.