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Latitude
and Longitude
Latitude
- Longitude is a coordinate system that treats the globe as if it were a
sphere or spheroid. The sphere is divided into 360 equal parts called
degrees. Each degree can be further subdivided into 60 minutes, each
composed of 60 seconds. The standard origin is where the Greenwich Prime
Meridian meets the Equator. All points north of the Equator and east of
the Prime Meridian are positive. The origin divides the globe into four
quadrants; northwest, northeast, southwest and southeast. Each line of
longitude runs north and south and measures the number of degrees east or
west of the Prime Meridian. Values range from positive 180 to negative 180
degrees. Lines of latitude run from east to west and measure the number of
degrees north or south of Equator. Values range from the North Pole, at
positive 90 degrees, to the South Pole, located at negative 90 degrees.
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| Latitude and Longitude can be expressed in
different forms. |
Your
GPS can be set to use any of the Lat/Long coordinate displays. |
| DD° MM' SS" |
Degrees,
Minutes & Seconds
This is the oldest of the Lat/Long systems and is used by the USCG. |
| DD° MM. MM |
Degrees
& Minutes.
The minutes are in decimal form |
| DD. DD. DD |
Degrees only
The degrees are in decimal form |
| An excellent free converter that can toggle
between the three methods used in Lat/Long. |
http://www.hhcopters.com/apps/
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Universal
Transverse Mercator (UTM)
UTM is not a true map projection, but a coordinate
system that divides the globe into sixty zones, each spanning six
degrees of longitude. Each zone has its own central meridian from which it
spans 3 degrees west and 3 degrees east.
UTM
was developed by the military. It's
metric based system
makes it very easy to use,
The zones of the United States are shown to the right.
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A Lat/Long to UTM converter can be downloaded
free of charge at the UTM to the right.
A free registration is required. |
https://shop.tatukgis.com/downloads/DownloadList.aspx
It is listed as SKU1034-191 Datums & Projections calculator
If you have trouble making this converter work, email me at OSSA@cooscountysheriff.com |
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Township
and Range
Township
and Range are based on the Public Land Survey System. This system,
developed early in our nation’s history, uses a grid to describe and
catalog the land. This grid is made up of a series of townships, ranges,
and sections beginning with townships (horizontal separations) and ranges
(vertical separations). Each of these lines are approximately 6 miles
apart resulting in 6 mile square divisions. Because of difficulties
placing a grid over a round surface and the limitations on early survey
equipment, variations do exist. Each Township and Range is further divided
into 36 sections. These sections are each approximately 1 mile square.
All of
Oregon's Townships and Ranges begin at the Willamette Stone pictured to the
right. It is located near
Portland
.
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Unfortunately there are no GPS units that work in
Township & Range.
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| A Township, Range & Section to Lat/Long
converter can be downloaded free of charge to the right. |
http://members.cox.net/azregion/trs/trs.htm
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