Jump to content

Coordinate Systems


Exfireguy

Recommended Posts

This morning in No. CA there was a small earthquake. So, I went to the USGS site to find out where it was. The coordinates given were 40.165 121.178 I pulled out my forest service map and the system used on it was 40 15' 30" and so forth. My GPSr would tell me something like 40.16.xxx So, is it easy to translate these methods? Or is it obvious and I'm too thick? Thanks

Link to comment

Hi Exfireguy, it is quite easy. On your GPSr, go to the Main Menu screen/Setup/Units/Postion Format and select hddd.ddddd° (degree decimal) vs. the hddd° mm.mmm' (degree decimal minute) format. I'm using a Garmin Map 60C so your unit may differ in the steps, but the process is the same. Happy quake hunting!

 

When you've entered the coordinates in this postion format, you can revert back to the one you regularly use. It's all the same geographic position, just a different way to say the same thing.

 

[edit: more info]

Edited by Timpat
Link to comment

. . . or you can just take the decimal part of the degrees and multiply by 60

 

.165 x 60 = 9.900, so the first coordinate would be the same as 40° 09.900'

.179 x 60 = 10.74, so the second would be the same as 121° 10.740'

 

Edit: Oops, your forest service map is degrees minutes and seconds, so again, you would have to take the decimal portion from above and multiply by 60

 

.9 x 60 = 54, so 40° 9' 54"

.74 x 60 = 44.4, so 121° 10' 44"

Edited by Sputnik 57
Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...