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
3432 nm
Equatorial Radius
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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The North Pole is termed the pole which lies to the left of an
If an observer stands:
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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.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:
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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.
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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:
Meridian
s
Parallels of Latitude
parallels of latitude:
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Parallel of
Latitude
Rhumb Line
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
The distance along a Rhumb Line is not the shortest distance between two points
The distance between flying a Rhumb Line Track and a Great Circle:
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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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