Description
Return 90 minus latitude for the north pole or 90 plus latitude for the south pole.
Spherical geography models Earth with one radius and angular coordinates. Surface arcs, polar heights, circle radii, and area fractions are different derived quantities; an ideal spherical result does not include ellipsoid or terrain effects.
Return 90 minus latitude for the north pole or 90 plus latitude for the south pole.
When to use this tool
Use Pole Distance From Latitude when you need a stated spherical geographic term or angular conversion.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter latitudeDegrees, northPole. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read angularDistanceDegrees. Use the output convention below.
Require latitudeDegrees within [-90, 90]. Return 90 minus latitude for the north pole or 90 plus latitude for the south pole.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| latitudeDegrees | Latitude Degrees | Required. Finite number; minimum -90; maximum 90. |
| northPole | North Pole | Required. Boolean. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| angularDistanceDegrees | Angular Distance Degrees | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"latitudeDegrees": 40,
"northPole": true
},
"output": {
"angularDistanceDegrees": 50
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- The result is angular degrees, not a physical distance. A sphere radius, ellipsoid, terrain, and route are not used.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use ellipsoidal geodesy or a suitable terrain model when spherical assumptions are inadequate. Keep angular units, physical length units, latitude definition, and reference radius explicit.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Latitude Complement Colatitude
Return colatitudeDegrees equal to 90 minus latitudeDegrees.
- Meridian Distance Latitude Sensitivity
Return signed meridian distance radius times latitude and derivative equal to radius.