Numbers form a virtually universal language. We all use base 10 to count. This wasn't always the case. Sumerians and Babylonians used base 60, and their system survives in our measurements of time and angles.

In reporting coordinates on the GLOBE Web site we have been mixing the base 10 and base 60 systems. Latitude and longitude have been reported in degrees and decimal minutes to two decimal places. In presenting location data, GLOBE has always used decimal degrees to four decimal places precision so that latitude and longitude would each be a single number and easier to download in tables. Schools using email data entry have also reported a single number expressed in decimal degrees for latitude and longitude.

The time has come for us to use the same system across GLOBE. From this day forward, when you define a site, use decimal degrees for latitude and longitude. GPS receivers may be set to read out in decimal degrees instead of degrees and decimal minutes, so this change should be easy for all of us.

To provide the appropriate level of precision in the location of GLOBE sites, please report latitude and longitude to four decimal places. For example:

Latitude = 37.1234 degrees North and Longitude = 98.7654 degrees West

No one need change any data already reported to GLOBE. If you have readings in degrees and decimal minutes which you have not yet reported to GLOBE, the conversion to decimal degrees is simple. Since a minute is one-sixtieth of a degree, divide the decimal minutes by 60 and add the quotient to the number of degrees. Please remember to calculate your result to four decimal places. Here is one example:

If you have any questions or problems with this change, please contact the Help Desk or your Country Coordinator.