Longitude and latitude are points on the globe that help you find a specific location. When writing longitude and latitude, you need to make sure the format and symbols are correct so they can be understood. You can identify and write various points of longitude and latitude on the map. Longitude and latitude can be written using one longitude and one latitude. For more specific longitude and latitude points, coordinates can be written using degrees, minutes, seconds, and decimals.
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Method 1 of 4: Writing Basic Longitude and Latitude
Step 1. Identify the longitude
Longitude is a vertical line that extends across the globe, starting from the north pole to the south pole. The Prime Meridian divides the lines of longitude. This is zero degrees longitude. When writing longitude, use the symbol "°" to denote degrees.
- Longitude stretches from east to west. Each time it moves east, the line increases by one degree. You use the abbreviation "BT" (East Longitude) to indicate a line of longitude east of the Prime Meridian. For example, a line of longitude can be located at 30°E.
- Each line also increases by one degree as the longitude moves west. You write longitudes west of the Prime Meridian using the abbreviation “BB” (West Longitude). For example, a line of longitude can be located at 15°W.
Step 2. Identify the latitude
Latitude is the horizontal line that divides the globe. This line runs from east to west, starting at the equator. The equator/equator is 0 degrees latitude. When writing longitude and latitude, use the symbol "°" to indicate degrees.
- As you move north of the equator, latitude increases by one degree until it reaches 90 degrees. 90 degrees latitude is the north pole. Latitude lines are marked "LU" which means north latitude. For example, latitude could be 15°N.
- As you move south of the equator, the latitude again increases by one degree until it reaches 90 degrees. Latitude 90 degrees south of the equator is the south pole. To indicate it, you use the symbol “LS” (South Latitude). For example, the latitude could be at 30°LS.
Step 3. Write down the longitude and latitude coordinates
Search the location and find the point where the longitude and latitude intersect. For example, a location can be found along latitude 15°N and longitude 30°E. When writing longitude and latitude, write the latitude first followed by a comma, and then the longitude.
For example, the point of intersection of the latitude and longitude above is written as "15°N, 30°E"
Method 2 of 4: Using Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds
Step 1. Identify the latitude and longitude
Sometimes, you need to provide a more accurate location than just latitude and longitude. Latitude and longitude can be broken down into minutes and seconds. However, you must parse the related latitude and longitude. Find the latitude and longitude of the location you want to write down.
For example, latitude is 15°N and longitude is 30°E
Step 2. Find the minutes between each longitude and latitude
The distance between each longitude and latitude is divided into one degree. These degrees can be further divided into minutes. Imagine there are 60 minutes separating each latitude and longitude. You can use online maps to help show accurate minutes of your location in longitude and latitude. Apostrophes are used to indicate the number of minutes between lines.
For example, if there are 23 minutes between latitudes, write it as 23'
Step 3. Identify the seconds between each minute
Minutes can be further broken down into seconds. One minute consists of 60 seconds. Again, online maps can help you pinpoint the exact number of seconds between each minute. Quotation marks are used to indicate the number of seconds.
For example, if there are 15 seconds in longitude, write it as 15"
Step 4. Write down degrees, then minutes, and finally seconds
After finding the exact coordinates in minutes and seconds of latitude and longitude, write them down in that order. Start with latitude, then minutes, and then seconds. After that enter North or South Latitude. Next, write a comma followed by minutes, then seconds. Then, add East or West Longitude to show the direction.
- For example, the location is at latitude 15°N, 24 minutes, and 15 seconds, then at longitudes 30°E, 10 minutes, and 3 seconds.
- The latitude and longitude will be written as, 15°24'15"N, 30°E10'3".
Method 3 of 4: Using Degrees and Decimal Minutes
Step 1. Identify the point of intersection of longitude and latitude
You can also use minutes as a decimal number to determine longitude and latitude. However, you have to start again by identifying the longitude and latitude. Find the point of intersection of longitude and latitude determines your location.
For example, your location is 15°N, 30°W
Step 2. Find the minutes of the location, including the decimal number
Some maps show minutes followed by a decimal point instead of seconds. The online map should also provide the option of splitting the minutes into a decimal number for each longitude and latitude. For example, the latitude could be at 23.0256 minutes.
Step 3. Specify a positive or negative number
When using the decimal degree and minute system, you are not using directions such as north, south, west, or east. Instead, you use positive or negative numbers to determine locations on the map.
- Remember, latitudes run north and south of the equator. When using decimal numbers, positive numbers indicate latitude north of the equator and negative numbers indicate latitude below the equator. Latitude 23,456 is north of the equator, while latitude -23,456 is south of the equator.
- Longitude runs east and west of the Prime Meridian. A positive number means longitude is east of the Prime Meridian, while a negative number indicates longitude is west of the Prime Meridian. For example, longitude 10,234 is east of the Prime Meridian, while -10,234 is west of the Prime Meridian.
Step 4. Write down the latitude and longitude
To write the location in full, start with the latitude. Continue with coordinates using minutes and decimals. Add a comma and then the longitude followed by the minutes and decimal places. Don't forget to use positive and negative numbers to indicate the direction of the coordinates. You also may not use the degree symbol in this writing format.
- For example, we use the example of the previous point which is 15°N, 30°W. Identify the minute and decimal numbers, then write down the coordinates.
- In this format the dot above is written as "15 10,234, 30 -23,456."
Method 4 of 4: Using Decimal Degrees
Step 1. Find the longitude and latitude
Degrees of latitude and longitude can also be described with decimals. Instead of using minutes and seconds, the line representing one degree is divided to get the decimal number of the exact location you want to write down. First, find the degrees of the longitude and latitude of the location.
Let's try to reuse the previous example, which is 15°N, 30°W
Step 2. Find the decimal number
Online maps can show the longitude and latitude of a location in decimal numbers. Usually, this decimal number is up to five digits after the comma.
For example, your locations are 15, 23456 north and 30, 67890 west
Step 3. Identify positive and negative numbers
Instead use the words north, south, east and west to indicate direction. We use positive and negative numbers. For latitudes, lines running north of the equator are positive, and lines running below the equator are negative. For longitude, lines east of the Prime Meridian are positive and lines west of the Prime Meridian are negative.
- For example, latitude 15,23456 is north of the equator, while -15,23456 is south of the equator.
- Longitude 30, 67890 is east of the Prime Meridian, while -30, 67890 is to the west.
Step 4. Write down the latitude and longitude, including the decimal number
The use of decimal numbers is quite simple. You simply write down the latitude, including the decimal number, followed by the longitude as a decimal number. Use positive and negative numbers to indicate the direction of the related location.
