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Unit 3

The document discusses Gnomonic projection, which is a true geometrical projection suitable for plotting Great Circle tracks, where great circles appear as straight lines and distortions increase with distance from the tangent point. It explains the concept of Great Circle Sailing, emphasizing its importance for long ocean passages as it represents the shortest distance between two points on a sphere, while also detailing the calculations necessary for determining courses and distances. Additionally, it highlights the need for navigators to adjust their course regularly and utilize both Gnomonic and Mercator charts for effective navigation.

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Aditya Pal
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33 views4 pages

Unit 3

The document discusses Gnomonic projection, which is a true geometrical projection suitable for plotting Great Circle tracks, where great circles appear as straight lines and distortions increase with distance from the tangent point. It explains the concept of Great Circle Sailing, emphasizing its importance for long ocean passages as it represents the shortest distance between two points on a sphere, while also detailing the calculations necessary for determining courses and distances. Additionally, it highlights the need for navigators to adjust their course regularly and utilize both Gnomonic and Mercator charts for effective navigation.

Uploaded by

Aditya Pal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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GNOMONIC PROJECTION

 This is a true geometrical Projection where the chart is drawn


on a flat surface Tangential to the Earth.
1. Great Circles appear as straight lines, hence the Gnomonic
Chart is suitable for plotting of Great Circle tracks.
2. Meridian appear as curves.
3. Rhumb Lines appear as curves.
4. Parallels of Latitude appear as curve.
5. The greater the distance from the ‘Tangent Point’, the greater
the
distortion.
 On a Mercator Chart, distances measured in any direction,
using minutes of the Latitude scale of the chart, are in Nautical
Miles.
 Since the size of one minute of Latitude on a Mercator Chart
increases as Latitude increases, use the chart dividers against
the Latitude in which the distance lies.

 Great circle sailing involves the solution of courses, distances,


and points along a great circle between two points.
 Great Circle Sailing is used for long ocean passages.
 For this purpose, the earth is considered a perfect spherical
shape; therefore, the shortest distance between two points on
its
surface is the arc of the great circle containing two points.
GREAT CIRCLE SAILING
 This complicates long-distance navigation, rather than stay on
a constant heading, pilots must regularly adjust their course to
stay on the arc.
 The great circle effect is most dramatic near the Poles.
 (Remember: any circle that passes through two points
opposite each other on a sphere is a great circle.)
 Why are great circles important in navigation?
 Because they show us the shortest routes between two points
on a sphere.
 Great circle sailing involves the solution of courses, distances,
and points along a great circle between two points.
 Great Circle Sailing is used for long ocean passages.
 For this purpose, the earth is considered a perfect spherical
shape; therefore, the shortest distance between two points on
its surface is the arc of the great circle containing two points.
 As the track is the circle, so the course is constantly changing,
and the track must be broken down into a series of short
rhumb
lines at frequent intervals that can be used to sail on the
Mercator chart.
 As the track is the circle, so the course is constantly changing,
and the track must be broken down into a series of short
rhumb
lines at frequent intervals that can be used to sail on the
Mercator chart.
 In doing this, the navigator would use the Gnomonic charts
combined with the Mercator charts to draw the sailing track.
 It is certainly an important consideration for commercial
vessels across the North Atlantic and North Pacific.
 The advantage of a great circle is obvious, the shorter
distance.
 The disadvantages, depending on latitude, could be quite a
few.


 Calculating the GC distance:
 Assume A is Latitude and Latitude B is Declination.
 D’long is angle P.
 Using Intercept formula and calculate the Zenith Distance ZD,
which is the GC distance AB.
 Cos ZD = Cos P x Cos LAT x Cos DEC +/- Sin LAT X Sin DEC
 (If Lat & Dec are same name add(+),Contrary Name (-).

 To find Initial course:


 Latitude Q = Latitude.
 Latitude R = Declination
 D’long = Angle P Eastwards.
 Angle PQR expressed in three figure notation, is the Azimuth =
initial Course.
Using ABC tables, A = Tan Lat/Tan P (A Named opposite to
Latitude when LHA is between 2700 & 0900 and named same as
Latitude when LHA is between 0900 & 2700).
B = Tan Dec/Sin P
 B is named same as Declination.
 For C, If A & B are of same name add and retain same, if different
names subtract and retain name of larger one.
 To obtain Azimuth;
 Tan Az = 1/C x Cos Lat. Az will be in quadrantal
eg; N60W = 3000 (T)
 Azimuth will be the course (Initial Course)
 To name Azimuth, first will be the sign of ‘C’, Say N.
 The second will be, say W as per LHA. If LHA is between 0000 &
1800 named as W and between 1800 & 3600 named as E.
 (Prefix for Azimuth is the name of ‘C’ & suffix as per D’Long).
 To Calculate Final Course:
 In this case, Latitude R is latitude and Latitude Q is Declination.
 Work out the final course as before by finding out Azimuth.

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