What are the parallels of lattitude and meridins of longitude?
Answers
Answer:atitude and Longitude (Meridians and Parallels)
The Equator is an imaginary circle equidistant from the poles of the Earth. Circles parallel to the Equator (lines running east and west) are parallels of latitude. They are used to measure degrees of latitude north or south of the Equator. The angular distance from the Equator to the pole is one-fourth of a circle or 90�. The 48 conterminous states of the United States are located between 25� and 49� N. latitude. The arrows in figure 8-2 labeled “LATITUDE” point to lines of latitude.
Meridians of longitude are drawn from the North Pole to the South Pole and are at right angles to the Equator. The “Prime Meridian” which passes through Greenwich, England, is used as the zero line from which measurements are made in degrees east and west to 180�. The 48 conterminous states of the United States are between 67� and 125� W. Longitude. The arrows in figure 8-2 labeled “LONGITUDE” point to lines of longitude.
Any specific geographical point can thus be located by reference to its longitude and latitude. Washington, DC for example, is approximately 39� N. latitude, 77� W. longitude. Chicago is approximately 42� N. latitude, 88� W. longitude.
Time Zones
The meridians are also useful for designating time zones. A day is defined as the time required for the Earth to make one complete revolution of 360�. Since the day is divided into 24 hours, the Earth revolves at the rate of 15� an hour. Noon is the time when the Sun is directly above a meridian; to the west of that meridian is forenoon, to the east is afternoon.
Figure 8-2.—Meridians and parallels—the basis of measuring time, distance, and direction.
The standard practice is to establish a time zone for each 15� of longitude. This makes a difference of exactly 1 hour between each zone. In the United States, there are four time zones. The time zones are Eastern (75�), Central (90�), Mountain (105�), and Pacific (120�). The dividing lines are somewhat irregular because communities near the boundaries often find it more convenient to use time designations of neighboring communities or trade centers. Figure 8-3 shows the time zones in the United States. When the Sun is directly above the 90th meridian, it is noon Central Standard Time. At the same time, it will be 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 11 a.m. Mountain Standard Time, and 10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. When “daylight saving” time is in effect, generally between the last Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October, the Sun is directly above the 75th meridian at noon, Central Daylight Time.
These time zone differences must be taken into account during long flights eastward—especially if the flight must be completed before dark. Remember, an hour is lost when flying eastward from one time zone to another, or perhaps even when flying from the western edge to the eastern edge of the same time zone. Determine the time of sunset at the destination by consulting the flight service stations (AFSS/FSS) or National Weather Service and take this into account when planning an eastbound flight.
In most aviation operations, time is expressed in terms of the 24-hour clock. Air traffic control instructions, weather reports and broadcasts, and estimated times of arrival are all based on this system. For example: 9 a.m. is expressed as 0900; 1 p.m. is 1300; 10 p.m. is 2200 etc.
Because a pilot may cross several time zones during a flight, a standard time system has been adopted. It is called Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) and is often referred to as Zulu time. UTC is the time at the 0� line of longitude which passes through Greenwich, England. All of the time zones around the world are based on this reference. To convert to this time, a pilot should do the following:
• Eastern Standard Time Add 5 hours
• Central Standard Time Add 6 hours
• Mountain Standard Time Add 7 hours
• Pacific Standard Time Add 8 hours
For daylight saving time, 1 hour should be subtracted from the calculated times.
Measurement of Direction
By using the meridians, direction from one point to another can be measured in degrees, in a clockwise direction from true north. To indicate a course to be followed in flight, draw a line on the chart from the point of departure to the destination and measure the angle which this line forms with a meridian. Direction is expressed in degrees, as shown by the compass rose in figure 8-4.
Because meridians converge toward the poles, course measurement should be taken at a meridian near the midpoint of the course rather than at the point of departure. The course measured on the chart is known as the true course. This is the direction measured by reference to a meridian or true north. It is the direction of intended flight as measured in degrees clockwise from true north. As shown in figure 8-5, the direction from A to B would be a true course of 065�, whereas the return trip (called the reciprocal) would be a true course of 245�.