When using the geographic grid system, one must specify whether coordinates are north (N) or south (S) of the equator, and east (E) or west (W) of the prime meridian.

The line of 0° latitude is the equator, and latitude increases from 0° to 90° as you move north or south towards the poles. The line of 0° longitude is the prime meridianlocated in Greenwich, England, and longitude increases from 0° to 180° as you move east or west away from the prime meridian. Depending on the accuracy required in locating a point on a map, degrees (°) may be subdivided into 60 subdivisions known as minutes (‘) and minutes may be subdivided into 60 subdivisions known as seconds(“). Figure T9: Geographic grid system displayed over southern Alberta.Ĭoordinates that describe an exact location on the surface of Earth are represented in degrees, minutes and seconds of latitude and longitude. Meridians of longitude run north-south whereas parallels of latitude run east-west. Figure T8: The geographic grid system is comprised of meridians of longitude and parallels of latitude. Figures T8 and T9 illustrate the geographic grid system in Canada. The geographic grid system is made up of meridians of longitude and parallels of latitude.

If you are not sure which grid system you are using, return to the Options menu to check. Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), where locations are specified in metres using an eastingand northing.ĭepending on your settings in Google Earth Pro, you might be using the geographic grid system (latitude and longitude) OR the Universal Transverse Mercator grid system (UTM).Geographic, where locations are specified using degrees and minutes of latitude and longitude.The two types of grid systems we will cover in this course are: Grid systems are used to precisely identify locations on a map. Grid Systems and Coordinates What is a grid system?Ī grid is a regular pattern made of squares formed by two sets of lines that intersect at right angles.

Map grid definition