Notes on data entry

Notes on Submitting data

Sample filled out data form:

Entering Latitude and Longitude

Latitude is usually described in degrees, minutes, and seconds North (N) or South (S) of the equator.
Longitude is usually described in degrees, minutes, and seconds West (W) or East (E) of the prime meridian line which passes through Greenwich, England.

This is based on a sexagesimal scale:

A circle has 360 degrees, 60 minutes per degree, and 60 seconds per minute.
There are 3,600 seconds per degree.
Examples of how to enter data:

Latitude 45:33:22 N (45 degrees, 33 minutes, 22 seconds, north of the equator.
Longitude 123:05:10 E (123 degrees, 5 minutes, 10 seconds, east of the meridian)

For calculation purposes, it is often necessary to convert this conventional angular measurement into decimal degrees. For example, to convert 45° 33' 22":

multiply 33 minutes by 60, which equals 1,980 seconds.
Next add 22 seconds to 1,980: 2,002 total seconds.
Now compute the ratio: 2,002/3,600 = 0.55.
Adding this to 45 degrees, the answer is 45.55°.

Preferred form for this data base: Decimal degree with appropriate direction. Example of latitude: 45.55 N

For other measurements make sure you include the units. For example, the sun angle might be 37.3 degrees.

Submitting Circumference Data
After receiving shadow measurement information from your partnering school and completing your circumference calculations, go to the Project Data page and enter your calculated circumference.

Back to Project Data page