Navigation and Seamanship

1.2.8. Latitude

                                                                       

         Latitude (L, lat.) is the angular distance from the equator, measured north-ward or south-ward along a meridian from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles. It is designated north (N) or south (S) to indicate the direction of measurement

         The latitude of a point may be considered either as the angular distance measured from the center of the earth or as an arc on the surface. Latitude is normally measured in degrees, minutes and seconds, or in degrees, minutes and decimal fractions of a minute; the suffix “north” or “south” is an essential part of the description and must always be included.