Wolfram Function Repository

Instant-use add-on functions for the Wolfram Language

Function Repository Resource:

 RhumbLineDistance

Source Notebook

Find the distance between two geographical locations along a rhumb line

Contributed by: Peter Cullen Burbery

ResourceFunction["RhumbLineDistance"][loc1,loc2]

finds the rhumb line distance between locations loc1 and loc2.

ResourceFunction["RhumbLineDistance"][loc]

finds the rhumb line distance from Here to loc.

Details

A rhumb line, or loxodrome, is a path of constant bearing, defined as its angle with its local meridian. A rhumb line is longer than a geodesic path, but is easier for sailors and navigators because they don't have to constantly change course.

Examples

Basic Examples (2) 

Find the rhumb line distance to Null Island with 0 latitude and 0 longitude:

In[1]:=
ResourceFunction["RhumbLineDistance"][GeoPosition["NullIsland"]]
Out[1]=

Find the rhumb line distance between the North and South Poles:

In[2]:=
ResourceFunction["RhumbLineDistance"][GeoPosition["NorthPole"], GeoPosition["SouthPole"]]
Out[2]=

Applications (1) 

Find the rhumb line distance to the Empire State Building:

In[3]:=
ResourceFunction["RhumbLineDistance"][ Entity["Building", "EmpireStateBuilding::h583b"]]
Out[3]=

Properties and Relations (1) 

Use UnitConvert and the option "SIBase" to convert the output to meters:

In[4]:=
UnitConvert[ ResourceFunction["RhumbLineDistance"][GeoAntipode[Here]], "SIBase"]
Out[4]=

Publisher

Peter Burbery

Version History

  • 1.0.0 – 23 September 2022

Related Resources

License Information