Name:Date:

Earth Science Class:

Lab 5- Latitude and Longitude

Introduction:

Long ago, people in the ancient times used to position themselves using landmarks and basic maps. These worked well locally, but when traveling to faraway lands people would get very confused. A universal coordinate system was needed to help people who were traveling long distances over deserts or oceans. Eventually, a global grid of latitude and longitude was created! Today, latitude and longitude is used daily, even in GPS navigation systems. It allows people to precisely navigate from location to location. We measure latitude and longitude in units of degrees. One degree of latitude or longitude is broken down into 60 minutes. One minute is broken down into 60 seconds. Both minutes and seconds are used to acquire more exact locations.

Objective:

Explain how to use a latitude and longitude coordinate systems form the reference tables.

Vocabulary:

Latitude:

Longitude:

Equator:

Prime Meridian:

Procedure A: Find the “Surface Ocean Currents” map in your reference table. This map is also attached.

1. On what page of the ESRT do you find it? _________

2. How many degrees between adjacent meridians of longitude? ________

3. Plot and label (with letter) the following points on the attached map.

a.

1

b. Point A: 40°N, 90°W

c. Point B: 60°S, 105°E

d. Point C: 0°, 120°W

e. Point D: 40°N, 30°E

f. Point E: 30°S, 75°E

g. Point F: 50°N, 10°E

4. Identify the names of ocean currents that are found at the following coordinates.

a.

b. 40°N, 120°W: _______________

c. 70°N, 10°E: _________________

d. 30°S, 80°W: ________________

e. 18°S, 90°E: _________________

Procedure B: Find the “Tectonic Plates” map in your reference table. This map is also attached.

1. What page of the ESRT do you find it? __________

2. Find the approximate latitude and longitude of the following spots:

a. Yellowstone Hot Spot: _______________________________

b. Hawaii Hot Spot: ___________________________________

c. Tasman Hot Spot: ___________________________________

d. St. Helena Hot Spot: _________________________________

e. Iceland Hot Spot: ___________________________________

f. Galapagos Hot Spot: _________________________________

Procedure C: Find the “Generalized Bedrock Geology of New York State” map in your reference table. This map is also attached.

1. What page of the ESRT do you find it? ___________

2. Draw and label (with letter) dots on the enclosed map to mark the following latitude and longitude. Label each point with the appropriate letter.

a.

b. Point A: 42°N, 75° 30’ W

c. Point B: 44° 45’ N, 74° 15’ W

d. Point C: 41°N, 77°45’W

e. Point D: 43°N, 73°30’ W

3.

4. State the latitude and longitude of the following cities in degrees and minutes:

a. Oswego: ___________________________

b. Albany: ___________________________

c. Old Forge: ___________________________

d. Riverhead: ___________________________

Conclusion Questions: Answer the following questions using complete sentences.

1. Identify three different continents in which the Equator passes through.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Identify three different continents in which the Prime Meridian passes through.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Explain the difference between latitude and longitude.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________