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Atlantic Flight Training Ltd

Chapter 1.
The Form of the Earth
Shape of the Earth
For navigational purposes the Earth is assumed to be a perfect
sphere. In reality it is slightly flattened at the poles and can be described as an Ellipsoid or
Oblate Spheroid. The Earths polar diameter is approximately 23 nm shorter than the
equatorial diameter. When the full diameter of the Earth is considered this is negligible and
can be disregarded for the purposes of practical navigation.

Polar Radius

6 356 752 metres

3432 nm

Equatorial Radius

6 378 137 metres

3443 nm

The ratio between the polar diameter and the equatorial diameter is termed the compression
ratio and indicates the amount of flattening. The ratio is approximately 1/297 but geodetic
information obtained by satellite shows that the Earth is in fact pear shaped with the larger
mass being in the Southern Hemisphere.
For navigation and mapping purposes World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS-84) is the current
ICAO standard.
The Poles
The extremities of the diameter about which the Earth rotates are called the
poles. Indicated by:
NP

SP
NP

North Pole

SP

South Pole

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Atlantic Flight Training

East and West


The direction in which the Earth rotates is termed East. This direction
is counter clockwise to a person looking down on the North Pole. The direction opposite to
East is West.

North Pole and South Pole


observer facing East.

The North Pole is termed the pole which lies to the left of an

If an observer stands:

At the North Pole then all directions are South

At the South Pole then all directions are North

Cardinal Directions
Cardinal Directions.

The directions, North, East, South and West are known as the
North

East

West

South
Position on the Earth
Great Circle
A great circle is a circle drawn on the surface of a sphere which has the
centre of the earth as its origin. These circles are the largest that can be drawn on the
spheres surface.
When two points are on the Earths surface the great circle that joins them has a long and
short path. The shorter path is always the shortest distance on the earth. Only one great circle
can be drawn through these two points, such as A to B in the diagram below.

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Atlantic Flight Training Ltd


North
Pole

.A

.B

South
Pole

If the points were diametrically opposed, the North Pole and the South Pole for example, then
an infinite number of great circles may be drawn.
Vertex of a Great Circle
The vertices of a great circle are the most northerly and
southerly points on that great circle.
Example

If the most northerly point is 73N 020W then its most southerly
point will be 73S 160E

Vertex properties:

The points are called antipodal

15 March, 2002
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The distance between the points is 10 800 nm

At the vertex the direction of the great circle is 090 - 270

270 - 090

The great circle will cross the Equator at longitudes 90 from the vertex longitude.

Example
Where the vertex is 73N 020W the longitudes that the great circle
will cut the Equator are 90 disposed from the vertex:

110W

070E

Small Circle A small circle is a circle drawn on the surface of the Earth's sphere which
does not have the centre of the earth as its origin.

Circle A is a Small Circle

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Atlantic Flight Training Ltd

Circle B is a Great Circle (The Equator)

Equator
The Equator is the great circle that cuts the Earth in half in an East West
direction. To the north of the Equator is the Northern Hemisphere; to the south the Southern
Hemisphere. The distance from the Equator to the North Pole is the same as the distance
from the Equator to the South Pole.

Equator

Meridians

A Meridian is a semi great circle that joins the poles. Each Meridian:

Runs in a North-South direction

Cuts the Equator at right angles

Has an ante-meridian to form the full great circle

Meridian
s
Parallels of Latitude
parallels of latitude:

The parallels of latitude run perpendicular to the Meridians. The

Are all small circles except the Equator

Always run in an East-West direction

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Cut the Meridians at right angles

Parallel of
Latitude
Rhumb Line

Rhumb Line Properties:

A regularly curved line on the surface of the Earth that cuts all meridians at the
same angle

Only one Rhumb line can be drawn through two points on the Earths surface

Not normally a Great Circle except;

The Meridians and Equator are Rhumb Lines

All parallels of latitude are Rhumb Lines

The distance along a Rhumb Line is not the shortest distance between two points

Unless the Rhumb Line is a Meridian or a Great Circle

The distance between flying a Rhumb Line Track and a Great Circle:

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15 March, 2002

Atlantic Flight Training Ltd

Is greatest over long distances.

Increases with Latitude

The table below shows the difference in the Rhumb Line and Great Circle distances along
60N departing from 01000E.
Destination

Dlon

Rhumb
Line
Distance

Great
Circle
Distance

Difference
NM

01000W

20

600

597.7

2.3

0.4

03000W

40

1200

1181.6

18.4

1.5

05000W

60

1800

1737.3

62.6

3.5

11000W

120

3600

3079.1

520.9

14.5

Normally flight of less than 1000 nm are flown along a Rhumb Line.

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Atlantic Flight Training

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