Importance of Latitude

We define Latitude as a delimitation of the distance that exists between the Equatorial Line (also known simply as Ecuador) and a certain point on the planet, being measured along the Meridian that determines said location, being generally referenced with its abbreviation "Lat." and allowing the division between North Latitude or South latitude.

The importance of knowing a latitude lies in the possibility of being able to locate a certain place, taking Ecuador as a starting point and taking into account the address North or South from said point, taking this point as 0° of angular measure, taking as extremes the North Pole an angle of 90° North, while in its opposite South Pole we have 90° South.

This allows us to obtain as a result that if we draw an imaginary Straight Line from any point to the center of the Earth We find such an angle with the Equatorial Plane that the latitude of the selected point is precisely presented, depending on whether it is a orientation South or North depending on its position relative to the Equator.

It is expressed with the use of Sexagesimal Degrees (that is, from 60 in 60) through the symbology ° with its relative subdivisions of Sexagesimal Minutes (represented by ' ) and on the other hand the Sexagesimal Second (whose symbol is ” ) with a scale between 0° and 90°, in addition to indicating the Hemisphere with the assignment of a letter S for the Hemisphere South, and contrary to the letter N for the Northern Hemisphere, this being a universal designation since it does not change according to the different languages.

In turn, we can achieve a division of the Planet Earth in three well-defined areas, namely:

Polar: The coldest areas of the planet, having the establishment of the Antarctic Circle and the Arctic Circle at its pole, finding Tundra ecosystems covered by a great variety of Ice Layers, located between 66° and 90° South and North Latitude, respectively.

intertropical: Between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer, that is, between latitudes 23°S and 23°N, counting with a predominance of Tropical Climate in this area, where ecosystems of desert, tropical jungle and sheet.
Temperate: Between the Polar Circles and the Tropics zone, having a varied climate, from Subtropical Climate to Subpolar Climate, with a great variety of ecosystems