Page 7 - SST Class 05

The latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere are Know It!
labelled ‘N’, and those in the Southern Hemisphere
v The Equator is the longest latitude,
are labelled ‘S’. For example, latitude at 45° in the
and other latitudes decrease in length
Northern Hemisphere is written as 45°N, and 45°
towards the poles. The latitudes at
in the Southern Hemisphere is written as 45°S. the poles are as small as a point.
Similarly, the North Pole is marked 90°N while the
South Pole is marked 90°S.

The latitudes which are near the Equator are called low latitudes and those near the
poles are called high altitudes .

Important Latitudes

The Equator is the most important latitude and is marked 0°. It divides the globe into
two equal halves. Other important latitudes are the following :

Tropics : The latitudes drawn at 23½°N are called
90°N North Pole
Arctic
tropics. They are two in number : one in the Circle Coldest areas 66½°N
Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern 23½°N
Hemisphere. The Tropic of Cancer lies at 23½°N. The Tropic of Moderate areas
Cancer
Tropic of Capricorn lies at 23½°S.

Circles : The latitudes at 66½°N are called circles. Equator 0°
They are two in number : one in the Northern
Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Tropic of Moderate areas
Hemisphere. The Arctic Circle lies at 66½°N. The Capricorn 23½°S
Antarctic Circle lies at 66½°S. Coldest areas
Antarctic 66½°S
Poles : We have told you about the two poles. The Circle 90°S South Pole
North Pole lies at 90°N and the South Pole lies at Important Latitudes
90°S. They are the smallest latitudes.

Latitudes and Heat Zones

You know that the sun is the source of heat and light on the earth.

Let us do a practical.

Light a candle and place it just in front of the globe. What do you
see?

The candle light is brighter in the middle where the light falls
direct, and it is not so bright on the sides where the light falls in a
slanting manner. It is complete shade on the other side. Now,
rotate the globe. You find that the light is shifting to the newer
A candle in front
areas and lighted areas are going to the sides and shaded area. of a globe

The Globe 7