1. Parallel lines that cut the earth horizontally that make up the geographic coordinate system where the distance from the equator (ground zero) to a point on the planet is measured between 0° and 90° degrees north or south along the Greenwich meridian .
2. Astronomy. Determination of the latitude of a star in the sky through the height of the celestial pole above the horizon line -high pole (hᵨ)-, that is, it is the angular distance between the star and the plane of the astronomical horizon.
Etymology: by latin latituderegarding the adjective latusregarding ‘broad’, ‘extended’, and the suffix -tūdolike -tud, depending on the substantivization over the adjectival form.
Grammatical category: noun fem.
in syllables: la-ti-tu.
Latitude
Latitude is the distance from a point on the earth’s surface to the equator, counted by the degrees of its meridian. This is measured in degrees, between 0° and 90° and can be represented in two ways: indicating which hemisphere the coordinate belongs to, or failing that, adding values, positive when it comes to north and negative when it comes to south .
So, Geographic coordinates, latitude, longitude, are what ultimately make it possible to locate a place within the earth’s surface. Parallels and meridians are imaginary or invisible lines that are drawn on the earth’s surface with the aim of helping and facilitating this location. From these arise the coordinates and the crossing points that are the ones that allow us to locate that required place.
Parallel 0° is the Equator and it is through it that latitude can be determined. If the point to be located is above the Equator, we will speak of North latitude and if it is not below, we will speak of South Latitude..
This location of coordinates turns out to be essential at the request of maritime navigation, especially, in the case of having to find lost ships or immersed in some type of complication on the high seas.
Meanwhile, Ecuador is an imaginary, non-existent line, drawn perpendicular to the rotational axis of the earth that divides it into two equal parts, the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere. For their part, the parallels are horizontal lines that are drawn in the same direction as Ecuador and these, when assigned degrees in relation to their distance from Ecuador, will become latitude coordinates.
Besides, latitude is a matter that has a direct incidence in determining the climates of each area. Between the Equator and the tropics the climate is mostly warm and gets colder as we move further from the Equator and closer to the North and South Poles.
Besides, At the request of Astronomy, latitude will be the distance, counted in degrees, from the Ecliptic to any point considered on the celestial sphere towards one of the poles..
Also, it is designated with the term of latitude to the entire extension of a country or territory.
Following