Without regard for global position, an arc equal to one minute of difference in latitude measurement is approximately 1 nautical mile. This gives
1 nautical mile per for every minute (1') of change in latitude. This is one advantage in measuring latitude with respect to angles originating at the center of the Earth.
- Conversion Notes
- 1 nautical mile = 6076 feet or 1852 meters
- compared to 1 statute (land) mile = 5280 feet or 1609 meters
- 1 nautical mile = 1.15 statute mile
- 1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour
Using the mathematical technique of "
units analysis", one can see the relationship between the earth's circumference and a nautical mile as the distance along one minute of arc lattitude by the following equation
(1 Earth circumference)/(360 °) x
(60')/1° x
(1 nautical mile)/(minute ' of arc) x
(1.15 statute miles)/(nautical mile) = 360 * 60 * 1.15 statute miles
= 24680 miles around the earth traveling through the poles