Sea Mileage Calculator

Great Circle Distance Formula:

\[ \text{Mileage} = \arccos(\sin(lat1) \times \sin(lat2) + \cos(lat1) \times \cos(lat2) \times \cos(lon2-lon1)) \times 3440 \]

Latitude 1:

degrees

Longitude 1:

degrees

Latitude 2:

degrees

Longitude 2:

degrees

Sea Mileage:

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1. What is Sea Mileage Calculation?

The Sea Mileage Calculator computes the shortest distance between two points on the Earth's surface (great circle distance) in nautical miles. This is essential for maritime navigation, flight planning, and global logistics.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Great Circle Distance formula:

\[ \text{Mileage} = \arccos(\sin(lat1) \times \sin(lat2) + \cos(lat1) \times \cos(lat2) \times \cos(lon2-lon1)) \times 3440 \]

Where:

\( lat1, lat2 \) — Latitude coordinates in degrees
\( lon1, lon2 \) — Longitude coordinates in degrees
3440 — Conversion factor to nautical miles (Earth's radius in nautical miles)

Explanation: The formula calculates the central angle between two points on a sphere and converts it to distance using the Earth's radius.

3. Importance of Accurate Mileage Calculation

Details: Precise sea mileage calculation is crucial for fuel planning, voyage estimation, safety margins, and compliance with international shipping regulations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter coordinates in decimal degrees (positive for North/East, negative for South/West). For best accuracy, use at least 6 decimal places.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between nautical miles and statute miles?
A: 1 nautical mile = 1.15078 statute miles = 1.852 kilometers. Nautical miles are based on Earth's circumference.

Q2: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It assumes a perfect sphere. For higher precision, ellipsoidal models like Vincenty's formulae are used.

Q3: What coordinate format should I use?
A: Decimal degrees are recommended (e.g., 34.052235, -118.243683).

Q4: Can I use this for air distance as well?
A: Yes, this calculates great circle distance which is also used in aviation.

Q5: Why is 3440 used in the formula?
A: It's the mean radius of Earth in nautical miles (≈3440 nm or 6371 km).