[Proj] Geocentric vs. Geodetic latitude
Frank Warmerdam
warmerdam at pobox.com
Wed Apr 28 06:59:15 PDT 2004
Folks,
I was recently suprised to encounter locations identified as being
geocentric that were give as a latitude and longitude. I had expected them
to be x/y/z values in meters.
A client of mine, better versed in such things explained that there is in
fact a distinction between geocentric and geodetic lat/long. He wrote:
>"The angle L' is called "geocentric latitude" and is defined as the
> angle between the equatorial plane and the radius from the geocenter.
>
> The angle L is called "geodetic latitude" and is defined as the angle
> between the equatorial plane and the normal to the surface of the
> ellipsoid. The word "latitude" usually means geodetic latitude. This
> is the basis for most of the maps and charts we use. The normal to the
> surface is the direction that a plumb bob would hang were it not for
> local anomalies in the earth's gravitational field."
I need to implement some code to convert geocentric latitude to geodetic
latitude. I think I can do from the above description, but I am wondering
if anyone can confirm the above description, provide a forumla or most
importantly provide some sample latitudes in both systems I can check my
work against.
Best regards,
--
---------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
I set the clouds in motion - turn up | Frank Warmerdam, warmerdam at pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush | Geospatial Programmer for Rent
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