Earth Basic Magnetism SPL

The Shape of the EARTH
1. Commonly described as an oblate spheroid, that is, a sphere
which is slightly flattened at its poles.
2. The flattening is called compression and in the case of the Earth
is approximately 0.3% (1/300th).
3. The Earth’s polar diameter is 27 Statute miles (or 23 nautical
miles or 43 km) less than its equatorial diameter.
4. Shape of the earth :- Geoid
5. ICAO has adopted world Geodetic System standard 1984.( WGS
84 )
Reciprocal directions :- The direction which is 180° opposite to the direction given. 060 (T) +180= 240
(T)
Position On the Earth /Position Reference System
1. Position Reference System which defines position accurately and unambiguously on the
Earth’s surface.
2. On a plane surface (such as graph paper), position can be defined accurately and
unambiguously using Cartesian co-ordinates ±x and ±y from 2 mutually perpendicular axes
3. The Cartesian system works well on a flat surface but must be modified to work on a
spherical surface, i.e. the Earth
4. The linear co-ordinates x and y are replaced by angular coordinates known as Longitude
and Latitude.
CIRCLES ON THE EARTH
Great Circle
1. A circle on the surface of the Earth whose centre and radius are those of the Earth itself is
called a Great Circle.
2. It is called ‘great’ because a disc cut through the Earth in the plane of the Great Circle
would have the largest area that can be achieved.
3. The shortest distance between two points on the Earth’s surface is the shorter arc of the
Great Circle joining the two points.

THE EQATOR
1. The Great Circle whose plane is at 90° to the axis of rotation of the Earth (the polar axis) is
called the Equator.
2. It lies in an East-West direction and divides the Earth equally into two hemispheres.
3. Equator is the datum for defining Latitude and is the equivalent of the X axis of the
Cartesian system.
The Meridians
1. Meridians are semi-Great Circles joining the North and South poles.
2. All meridians indicate True North-South direction.
3. Every Great Circle passing through the poles forms a meridian
and its Anti-meridian.
4. The meridians cross the Equator at 90°.
The Prime (or Greenwich) Meridian
1. The meridian passing through Greenwich is known the Prime
Meridian .
2. The Prime Meridian is the datum for defining Longitude and is
the equivalent of the Y axis of the Cartesian system.
Small Circle A circle on the surface of the Earth whose centre and radius are not those of the
Earth is called a Small Circle.
Parallels of Latitude
1. The parallels of latitude are small circles on the surface of the
Earth whose planes are parallel to the Equator.
2. They lie in an East-West direction.
3. Their function is to indicate position North or South of the
Equator.
GRATICULE
1. The network formed on a map or the surface of a globe
by the Prime Meridian, the meridians, the Equator and
the parallels of latitude is called the Graticule.

Earth Magnetism
The North and South magnetic poles are not exactly opposite each
other on the Earth. In effect, it is like a bent bar magnet.
MAGNETIC NORTH
1. Magnetic North is the horizontal direction indicated by a freely
suspended magnet influenced only by the Earth’s magnetic field.
2. This direction is sometimes referred to as the ‘magnetic meridian’
at that point.
MAGNETIC DIRECTION
Magnetic Direction is measured from Magnetic North clockwise through 360°, and is suffixed
by the letter ‘M’, e.g. 043(M) and 270(M).
VARIATION
1. Variation is the angular difference between the directions of True and Magnetic North at
any point.
2. Variation is the angle between True and Magnetic North and is measured in degrees East
or West from True North.
3. Isogonal :- A line on the surface of the Earth joining points of equal magnetic variation.
4. Agonic line :- It is the line connecting points North & South poles of Zero variation.
DEVIATION 1. There is a correction to be applied. This is for the difference between Magnetic North
and the direction that a compass needle points.

Earth Basic Magnetism SPL

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The Shape of the EARTH

1. Commonly described as an oblate spheroid, that is, a sphere

which is slightly flattened at its poles.

2. The flattening is called compression and in the case of the Earth

is approximately 0.3% (1/300th).

3. The Earth’s polar diameter is 27 Statute miles (or 23 nautical

miles or 43 km) less than its equatorial diameter.

4. Shape of the earth :- Geoid

5. ICAO has adopted world Geodetic System standard 1984.( WGS

Position On the Earth /Position Reference System

unambiguously using Cartesian co-ordinates ±x and ±y from 2 mutually perpendicular axes

spherical surface, i.e. the Earth

CIRCLES ON THE EARTH

called a Great Circle.

would have the largest area that can be achieved.

Great Circle joining the two points.

called the Equator.

2. All meridians indicate True North-South direction.

3. Every Great Circle passing through the poles forms a meridian

and its Anti-meridian.

4. The meridians cross the Equator at 90°.

The Prime (or Greenwich) Meridian

1. The meridian passing through Greenwich is known the Prime

2. The Prime Meridian is the datum for defining Longitude and is

the equivalent of the Y axis of the Cartesian system.

Earth is called a Small Circle.

1. The parallels of latitude are small circles on the surface of the

Earth whose planes are parallel to the Equator.

2. They lie in an East-West direction.

3. Their function is to indicate position North or South of the

1. The network formed on a map or the surface of a globe

by the Prime Meridian, the meridians, the Equator and

the parallels of latitude is called the Graticule.

other on the Earth. In effect, it is like a bent bar magnet.

1. Magnetic North is the horizontal direction indicated by a freely

suspended magnet influenced only by the Earth’s magnetic field.

2. This direction is sometimes referred to as the ‘magnetic meridian’

by the letter ‘M’, e.g. 043(M) and 270(M).

or West from True North.

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