The Tropic of Capricorn is the circle marking the latitude 23.5 degrees south where the sun is directly overhead at noon on December 21, the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere. Hereof, what is the significance of 23.5 degrees south?
December 21.
On December 21 you will observe that the Southern Hemisphere is pitched toward the Sun. This means that the Sun's vertical ray is striking the Earth at the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees S). Light extends 90 degrees in all directions from this point.
Also, at what latitude is the Antarctic Circle and what is its significance? The Antarctic Circle is a parallel of latitude on the Earth at approximately 66.5 degrees south of the equator. On the day of the southern summer solstice (around December 22 each year), an observer on the Antarctic Circle will see the Sun above the horizon for a full 24 hours.
People also ask, what is located at 23.5 degrees north latitude?
Tropic of Cancer
What is the significance of these lines of latitude?
These lines allow you to quickly and accurately locate places and features on the earth's surface. Latitude and longitude also play an important role in determining times and dates." Latitude: Lines of latitude are imaginary lines that run in an east-west (side-to-side) direction around the earth.
Related Question Answers
What is the important latitude?
The five major latitude lines are the equator, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. Which is the longest latitude?
90
Why is the equator so important?
An equator is an imaginary line around the middle of a planet or other celestial body. It is halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole, at 0 degrees latitude. An equator divides the planet into a Northern Hemisphere and a Southern Hemisphere. The Earth is widest at its Equator. What are the five major circles of latitude?
There are
five major circles of latitude, listed below from north to south.
Major circles of latitude
- Arctic Circle (66°33′48.4″ N)
- Tropic of Cancer (23°26′11.6″ N)
- Equator (0° latitude)
- Tropic of Capricorn (23°26′11.6″ S)
- Antarctic Circle (66°33′48.4″ S)
What effect does the tilt of the Earth have?
But Earth's distance from the sun doesn't change enough to cause seasonal differences. Instead, our seasons change because Earth tilts on its axis, and the angle of tilt causes the Northern and Southern Hemispheres to trade places throughout the year in receiving the sun's light and warmth most directly. What is the line below the equator?
Tropic of Capricorn
Where is the sun overhead?
Having the sun directly overhead can happen only between the Cancer and Capricorn tropics. That is, only the places between 23.5° of latitude north and 23.5° of latitude south. On the Cancer tropic (23.5° latitude north) it will happen once every year, on the day of the northern hemisphere solstice (about June 21st). How many imaginary lines does Earth have?
180 imaginary lines
What latitude gets the most direct sunlight?
0° latitude
How does temperature change with latitude?
Latitudes are angles that range from zero degrees at the equator to 90 degrees North or 90 degrees South at the poles. Temperature is inversely related to latitude. As latitude increases, the temperature falls, and vice versa. Generally, around the world, it gets warmer towards the equator and cooler towards the poles. What is the climate like at 90 degrees south latitude?
The geographic South Pole is located at 90 degrees south latitude. The station accommodates up to 250 people during the austral summer. Temperatures there average minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. What is 66.5 degrees north latitude called?
The Arctic Circle
What is the most important line of longitude?
The most important line of longitude is the Greenwich or Prime Meridian (0°). This line runs through the Greenwich Observatory in London. All the other lines of longitude are given a number between 0° and 180°. What is the climate like at 0 degrees latitude?
What is the weather like at 0° latitude? Hot and tropical. Which latitude receives the least amount of light?
The lowest latitudes get the most energy from the sun. The highest latitudes get the least. The tilt of the Earth causes different areas to receive different amounts of solar energy. The difference in solar energy received at different latitudes drives atmospheric circulation. Where is the sun at 90 degrees?
the equator
What is the name of 180 degree longitude?
The International Date Line, established in 1884, passes through the mid-Pacific Ocean and roughly follows a 180 degrees longitude north-south line on the Earth. It is located halfway round the world from the prime meridian—the zero degrees longitude established in Greenwich, England, in 1852. What is the meaning of great circles?
What is Great Circle? A Great Circle is any circle that circumnavigates the Earth and passes through the center of the Earth. A great circle always divides the Earth in half, thus the Equator is a great circle (but no other latitudes) and all lines of longitude are great circles. What is the significance of the latitude of 66.5 °N?
LOCATED AT 66.5 degrees north latitude or 23.5 degrees southward of the North Pole, the Arctic Circle forms an imaginary line marking the northernmost location where the sun can be seen during the northern hemisphere's winter solstice (December 21). Where does the Antarctic Circle lie?
Antarctic Circle, parallel, or line of latitude around the Earth, at 66°30′ S. What days do the Earth's equinoxes occur?
The September equinox occurs the moment the Sun crosses the celestial Equator – the imaginary line in the sky above Earth's Equator – from north to south. This happens either on September 22, 23, or 24 every year. What does Antarctic Circle mean?
: the parallel of latitude that is approximately 66¹/2 degrees south of the equator and that circumscribes the southern frigid zone. How many countries are in the Antarctic Circle?
There are no countries in Antarctica, although seven nations claim different parts of it: New Zealand, Australia, France, Norway, the United Kingdom, Chile, and Argentina. The Antarctic also includes island territories within the Antarctic Convergence. What is the significance of the Arctic and Antarctic circles?
The Arctic and Antarctic Circles are very important on Earth maps. The Arctic Circle is at a latitude of 66.5 degrees north of the Equator. This imaginary circle is the southernmost latitude in the Northern Hemisphere where the sun can remain above or below the horizon for 24 hours (June 21st and December 21st). Where is the Prime Meridian?
The prime meridian is a geographical reference line that passes through the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, in London, England. It was first established by Sir George Airy in 1851, and by 1884, over two-thirds of all ships and tonnage used it as the reference meridian on their charts and maps. Why is it called the Arctic Circle?
“Arctic” comes from the work “arktikos”, the Greek word for bear. The reason is that Ursa Major, the Great Bear constellation is viewed in the northern sky. The Arctic Circle marks the region above which, for at least 1 day a year, there is all day sunshine in the summer and 24-hours of darkness in the winter. Why is Latitude important to climate?
Many factors influence the climate of a region. The most important factor is latitude because different latitudes receive different amounts of solar radiation. Sunlight filters through a thick wedge of atmosphere, making the sunlight much less intense. How do you describe lines of latitude?
Lines of latitude measure north-south position between the poles. The equator is defined as 0 degrees, the North Pole is 90 degrees north, and the South Pole is 90 degrees south. Lines of latitude are all parallel to each other, thus they are often referred to as parallels. What is the importance of globe?
Globes and maps are a crucial learning tool in a myriad of class subjects, such as social studies, geography, and science, to name a few. World globes help children understand where they live, where other places in the world are located, as well as learning the unique shape of the Earth.