Latitude & Longitude Study Guide

Transcription

1 Latitude & Longitude Study Guide Name: Date: Section: Label the important Latitude lines on the diagram below. Include the degree measurements The equator is located at zero degrees latitude. The equator runs through Indonesia, Ecuador, northern Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kenya, among other countries. It is 24, miles (40, kilometers) long. On the equator, the sun is directly overhead at noon on the two equinoxes - near March and September 21. The equator divides the planet into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. On the equator, the length of day and night are equal every day of the year - day is always twelve hours long and night is always twelve hours long. The Tropic of Cancer and The Tropic of Capricorn The Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn each lie at 23.5 degrees latitude. The Tropic of Cancer is located at 23.5 North of the equator and runs through Mexico, the Bahamas, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Page 1

2 India, and southern China. The Tropic of Capricorn lies at 23.5 South of the equator and runs through Australia, Chile, southern Brazil (Brazil is the only country that passes through both the equator and a tropic), and northern South Africa. The tropics are the two lines where the sun is directly overhead at noon on the two solstices - near June and December 21. The sun is directly overhead at noon on the Tropic of Cancer on June 21 (the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of winter in the Southern Hemisphere) and the sun is directly overhead at noon on the Tropic of Capricorn on December 21 (the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of summer in the Southern Hemisphere). The reason for the location of the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.5 north and south respectively is due to the axial tilt of the Earth. The Earth is titled 23.5 degrees from the plane of the Earth's revolution around the sun each year. The area bounded by the Tropic of Cancer on the north and Tropic of Capricorn on the south is known as the "tropics." This area does not experience seasons because the sun is always high in the sky. Only higher latitudes, north of the Tropic of Cancer and south of the Tropic of Capricorn, experience significant seasonal variation in climate. The Arctic Circle marks the southern extremity of the polar day (24-hour sunlit day, often referred to as the "midnight sun") and polar night (24-hour sunless night). North of the Arctic Circle, the sun is above the horizon for 24 continuous hours at least once per year and below the horizon for 24 continuous hours at least once per year. On the Arctic Circle those events occur, in principle, exactly once per year, at the June and December solstices, respectively. Every place south of the Antarctic Circle experiences a period of twenty-four hours' continuous daylight at least once per year, and a period of twenty-four hours' continuous night time at least once per year. That is to say, there is at least one whole day during which the sun does not set, and at least one whole day during which the sun does not rise 1. How kilometers would you have to travel between Quito, Ecuador and Kinshasha in the Democratic Republic of the Congo? Answer the Questions 3. On the equator, on what two days is the sun is directly overhead at noon? 2. Name the countries through which the Equator runs. 4. On the equator, describe the length of daylight and nighttime every day of the year. Page 2

3 5. How many hours of daylight do they experience on the Equator? 12. On what day is the sun directly overhead at noon on the Tropic of Capricorn? 6. What is the degree measurement of the Tropic of Cancer? 13. What is the reason for the location of the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn at 23.5 north and south respectively? 7. What countries does the Tropic of Cancer pass through? 14. What is the area called that is bounded by the Tropic of Cancer on the north and Tropic of Capricorn on the south? Why? 8. On what day is the sun directly overhead at noon on the Tropic of Cancer? 15. What marks the southern extremity of the Arctic day (24- hour sunlit day, often referred to as the "midnight sun") and Arctic night (24-hour sunless night). 9. What is the degree measurement of the Tropic of Capricorn? 16. On the Arctic Circle when do the (24-hour sunlit day, often referred to as the "midnight sun") and polar night (24-hour sunless night) take place? 10. What countries does the Tropic of Capricorn pass through? 17. What marks the Northern extremity of the Antarctic day (24-hour sunlit day, often referred to as the "midnight sun") and polar night (24-hour sunless night). On the Antarctic Circle when do the (24-hour sunlit day) and Antarctic night (24-hour sunless night) take place? 11. What is the only country through which two named lines of latitude pass? What are the names? Page 3

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