Geographic direction

[edit] Azimuth Angle

The most common way of measuring angles on a compass is Azimuth Angles. An azimuth angle is measured in degrees increasing clockwise. The advantage of azimuth measures is that there is only one unique number assigned to each angle. This avoids the problem os confusing N60E with N60W, for example.

North Azimuth (NA) is used commonly and measures the angles with north as the origin. An angle of NA 180 would be south. NA 135 is SE. NA 270 is west. This is the method you will use if you ever take a navigation course or use a chart for navigation. All GPSs display headings using this system.

Less commonly used is South Azimuth, where angles are measured clockwise with south as the origin.

[edit] Compass Bearings

Compass bearings are directions referenced to the compass with angles given in degrees, North and South are the main reference directions and all angles are acute (less than 90 degrees). East and west are used to specify which direction the acute angle lies.

For example, North 60 degrees East (N60E) is sixty degrees from north clockwise in the east direction. South 30 degrees West (S30W) is thirty degrees clockwise west of south.

[edit] References to Cardinal Points on the Compass

These are directions relative to the chart or to the compass. It is important to be clear when discussing such directions whether one is referring to compass north or to true, geographic north. Since magnetic north deviates from true north in most locations, this can cause confusion.

In the following explanations, if there is any confusion, draw a little compass rose, divide it up as you go along and see what it looks like.

Most people know north (N), east (E), south(S) and west (W). If you are referring to a point halfway between these cardinal points, then use both names - note that North and South precede East and West in the names:

• Between N and E is Northeast (NE)
• Between S and E is Southeast (SE)
• Between S and W is Southwest (SW)
• Between N and W is Northwest (NW)

We can extend this to further intermediate positions - note that the cardinal point names precede the joined names:

• Between N and NE is North-northeast (NNE)
• Between NE and E is East-northeast (ENE)
• Between E and SE is East-southeast (ESE)
• and so on.

Further extension - note again the priority of cardinal point names after the word "by". These indicate the direction away from the first named direction.

• Between N and NNE is North-northeast by north (NNEN)
• Between NNE and NE is North-northeast by east (NNEE)
• Between NE and ENE is East-northeast by north (ENEN)
• Between ENE and E is East-northeast by east (ENEE)
• and so on.