Latitude

Geographic knowledge is critical to the study of meteorology. The elevation, wind movements, precipitation, and air pressure of any given area hugely influence weather conditions, not only for that area, but for other regions as well. Weather is never stagnant--one meteorological event touches off another, which in turn, generates yet another, in a constant interaction of phenomena occurring on a global scale.

To accurately analyze meteorological data, scientists must calculate the impacts of geographical characteristics on climate and, therefore, frequently use a very precise mapping system that can pinpoint any geographical location on earth. This global plotting employs identifying a location in terms of longitude and latitude, the geometrical coordinates used to determine specific points on the earth according to a system of curved grid lines.