Hubbry Logo
Cardinal directionCardinal directionMain
Open search
Cardinal direction
Community hub
Cardinal direction
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Cardinal direction
Cardinal direction
Cardinal direction
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

A compass rose showing the four cardinal directions, the four intercardinal directions, and eight more divisions.

The four cardinal directions or cardinal points are the four main compass directions: north (N), east (E), south (S), and west (W). The corresponding azimuths (clockwise horizontal angle from north) are 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°.

The four ordinal directions or intercardinal directions are northeast (NE), southeast (SE), southwest (SW), and northwest (NW). The corresponding azimuths are 45°, 135°, 225°, and 315°.

The intermediate direction of every pair of neighboring cardinal and intercardinal directions is called a secondary intercardinal direction. These eight shortest points in the compass rose shown to the right are:

  1. West-northwest (WNW)
  2. North-northwest (NNW)
  3. North-northeast (NNE)
  4. East-northeast (ENE)
  5. East-southeast (ESE)
  6. South-southeast (SSE)
  7. South-southwest (SSW)
  8. West-southwest (WSW)

Points between the cardinal directions form the points of the compass. Arbitrary horizontal directions may be indicated by their azimuth angle value.

Determination

[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Direction determination.[edit]
Direction determination refers to the ways in which a cardinal direction or compass point can be determined in navigation and wayfinding. The most direct method is using a compass (magnetic compass or gyrocompass), but indirect methods exist, based on the Sun path (unaided or by using a watch or sundial), the stars, and satellite navigation.[1]

Additional points

[edit]
Absolute
bearing
Cardinal
direction
Intercardinal
direction
Secondary
intercardinal
direction
Tertiary
intercardinal
direction
0° North
11¼°  NbE
22½° NNE
33¾° NEbN
45° NE
56¼° NEbE
67½° ENE
78¾°  EbN
90° East
101¼°  EbS
112½° ESE
123¾° SEbE
135° SE
146¼° SEbS
157½° SSE
168¾°  SbE
180° South
191¼°  SbW
202½° SSW
213¾° SWbS
225° SW
236¼° SWbW
247½° WSW
258¾°  WbS
270° West
281¼°  WbN
292½° WNW
303¾° NWbW
315° NW
326¼° NWbN
337½° NNW
348¾°  NbW
See also: Points of the compass § Compass points

Azimuth

[edit]
Main article: Azimuth

The directional names are routinely associated with azimuths, the angle of rotation (in degrees) in the unit circle over the horizontal plane. It is a necessary step for navigational calculations (derived from trigonometry) and for use with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. The four cardinal directions correspond to the following degrees of a compass:

  • North (N): 0° = 360°
  • East (E): 90°
  • South (S): 180°
  • West (W): 270°

Intercardinal directions

[edit]

The intercardinal (intermediate, or, historically, ordinal[2]) directions are the four intermediate compass directions located halfway between each pair of cardinal directions.

  • Northeast (NE), 45°, halfway between north and east, is the opposite of southwest.
  • Southeast (SE), 135°, halfway between south and east, is the opposite of northwest.
  • Southwest (SW), 225°, halfway between south and west, is the opposite of northeast.
  • Northwest (NW), 315°, halfway between north and west, is the opposite of southeast.

Subintercardinal directions

[edit]

The eight above listed directional names have been further compounded known as secondary intercardinal directions, resulting in a total of 16 named points evenly spaced around the compass. But there exist even tertiary intercardinal directions, resulting in a total of 32 named points evenly spaced around the compass: north (N), north by east (NbE), north-northeast (NNE), northeast by north (NEbN), northeast (NE), northeast by east (NEbE), east-northeast (ENE), east by north (EbN), east (E), etc.

Beyond geography

[edit]

Cardinal directions or cardinal points may sometimes be extended to include vertical position (elevation, altitude, depth): north and south, east and west, up and down; or mathematically the six directions of the x-, y-, and z-axes in three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates. Topographic maps include elevation, typically via contour lines. Alternatively, elevation angle may be combined with cardinal direction (or, more generally, arbitrary azimuth angle) to form a local spherical coordinate system.

In astronomy

[edit]

In astronomy, the cardinal points of an astronomical body as seen in the sky are four points defined by the directions toward which the celestial poles lie relative to the center of the disk of the object in the sky.[3][4] A line (a great circle on the celestial sphere) from the center of the disk to the North celestial pole will intersect the edge of the body (the "limb") at the North point. The North point will then be the point on the limb that is closest to the North celestial pole. Similarly, a line from the center to the South celestial pole will define the South point by its intersection with the limb. The points at right angles to the North and South points are the East and West points. Going around the disk clockwise from the North point, one encounters in order the West point, the South point, and then the East point. This is opposite to the order on a terrestrial map because one is looking up instead of down.

Similarly, when describing the location of one astronomical object relative to another, "north" means closer to the North celestial pole, "east" means at a higher right ascension, "south" means closer to the South celestial pole, and "west" means at a lower right ascension. If one is looking at two stars that are below the North Star, for example, the one that is "east" will actually be further to the left.

Germanic origin of names

[edit]

During the Migration Period, the Germanic names for the cardinal directions entered the Romance languages, where they replaced the Latin names borealis (or septentrionalis) with north, australis (or meridionalis) with south, occidentalis with west and orientalis with east. It is possible that some northern people used the Germanic names for the intermediate directions. Medieval Scandinavian orientation would thus have involved a 45 degree rotation of cardinal directions.[5]

  • north (Proto-Germanic *norþ-) from the proto-Indo-European *nórto-s 'submerged' from the root *ner- 'left, below, to the left of the rising sun' whence comes the Ancient Greek name Nereus.[6]
  • east (*aus-t-) from the word for dawn. The proto-Indo-European form is *austo-s from the root *aues- 'shine (red)'.[7] See Ēostre.
  • south (*sunþ-), derived from proto-Indo-European *sú-n-to-s from the root *seu- 'seethe, boil'.[8] Cognate with this root is the word Sun, thus "the region of the Sun".
  • west (*wes-t-) from a word for "evening". The proto-Indo-European form is *uestos from the root *ues- 'shine (red)',[9] itself a form of *aues-.[7] Cognate with the root are the Latin words vesper and vesta and the Ancient Greek Hestia, Hesperus and Hesperides.

Cultural variations

[edit]

In many regions of the world, prevalent winds change direction seasonally, and consequently many cultures associate specific named winds with cardinal and intercardinal directions. For example, classical Greek culture characterized these winds as Anemoi.

In pre-modern Europe more generally, between eight and 32 points of the compass – cardinal and intercardinal directions – were given names. These often corresponded to the directional winds of the Mediterranean Sea (for example, southeast was linked to the Sirocco, a wind from the Sahara).

Particular colors are associated in some traditions with the cardinal points. These are typically "natural colors" of human perception rather than optical primary colors.[vague]

Many cultures, especially in Asia, include the center as a fifth cardinal point.

Northern Eurasia

[edit]
Northern Eurasia N E S W C Source
Slavic — [10]
China [11][12][13]
Ainu [14][15]
Turkic [14]
Kalmyks — [16]
Tibet [14]

Central Asian, Eastern European and North East Asian cultures frequently have traditions associating colors with four or five cardinal points.

Systems with five cardinal points (four directions and the center) include those from pre-modern China, as well as traditional Turkic, Tibetan and Ainu cultures. In Chinese tradition, the five cardinal point system is related to I Ching, the Wu Xing and the five naked-eye planets. In traditional Chinese astrology, the zodiacal belt is divided into the four constellation groups corresponding to the directions.

Each direction is often identified with a color, and (at least in China) with a mythological creature of that color. Geographical or ethnic terms may contain the name of the color instead of the name of the corresponding direction.[11][12]

Examples

[edit]

East: Green (青 "qīng" corresponds to both green and blue); Spring; Wood

Qingdao (Tsingtao): "Green Island", a city on the east coast of China
Green Ukraine

South: Red; Summer; Fire

Red River (Asia): south of China
Red Ruthenia
Red Jews: a semi-mythological group of Jews[citation needed]
Red Croatia
Red Sea

West: White; Autumn; Metal

White Sheep Turkmen
Akdeniz, meaning 'White Sea': Mediterranean Sea in Turkish
Balts, Baltic words containing the stem balt- ("white")
Belarus, meaning 'White Russia'
White Ruthenia
White Serbia
White Croatia

North: Black; Winter; Water

Heilongjiang: "Black Dragon River" province in Northeast China, also the Amur River
Kara-Khitan Khanate: "Black Khitans" who originated in Northern China
Karadeniz, literally meaning 'Black Sea': Black Sea in Turkish
Black Hungarians
Black Ruthenia

Center: Yellow; Earth

Huangshan: "Yellow Mountain" in central China
Huang He: "Yellow River" in central China
Golden Horde: "Central Army" of the Mongols

Arabic world

[edit]

Countries where Arabic is used refer to the cardinal directions as الشَّمَال aš-šamāl (N), الشَّرْق aš-šarq (E), الْجَنُوب al-janūb (S), and الْغَرْب al-ḡarb (W). Additionally, الْوَسَط‎ al-wasaṭ‎ is used for the center. All five are used for geographic subdivision names (wilayahs, states, regions, governorates, provinces, districts or even towns), and some are the origin of some Southern Iberian place names (such as Algarve, Portugal and Axarquía, Spain).

North America

[edit]
North America E N W S C Source
Anishinaabe — [17]
Apache — [18]
Aztecs — [19]
Báxoje — [20]
Cherokee [21]
Cheyenne — [22]
Lakota — [23]
Maya [24]
Navajo — [25]
Puebloans — [26]
Purépecha

In Mesoamerica and North America, a number of traditional indigenous cosmologies include four cardinal directions and a center. Some may also include "above" and "below" as directions, and therefore focus on a cosmology of seven directions. For example, among the Hopi of the Southwestern United States, the four named cardinal directions are not North, South, East and West but are the four directions associated with the places of sunrise and sunset at the winter and summer solstices.[27][28][29][30] Each direction may be associated with a color, which can vary widely between nations, but which is usually one of the basic colors found in nature and natural pigments, such as black, red, white, and yellow, with occasional appearances of blue, green, or other hues.[31] There can be great variety in color symbolism, even among cultures that are close neighbors geographically.

India

[edit]

Ten Hindu deities, known as the "Dikpālas", have been recognized in classical Indian scriptures, symbolizing the four cardinal and four intercardinal directions with the additional directions of up and down. Each of the ten directions has its own name in Sanskrit.[32]

Indigenous Australia

[edit]

Some indigenous Australians have cardinal directions deeply embedded in their culture. For example, the Warlpiri people have a cultural philosophy deeply connected to the four cardinal directions[33][page needed] and the Guugu Yimithirr people use cardinal directions rather than relative direction even when indicating the position of an object close to their body. (For more information, see: Cultures without relative directions.)

The precise direction of the cardinal points appears to be important in Aboriginal stone arrangements.

Many aboriginal languages contain words for the usual four cardinal directions, but some contain words for 5 or even 6 cardinal directions.[34]

Unique (non-compound) names of intercardinal directions

[edit]
Cardinal and non-compound intercardinal directions in Estonian and Finnish. Notice the intermixed "south" and "southwest". Further intermixing between directions south and northwest occur in other Finnic languages.

In some languages, such as Estonian, Finnish and Breton, the intercardinal directions have names that are not compounds of the names of the cardinal directions (as, for instance, northeast is compounded from north and east). In Estonian, those are kirre (northeast), kagu (southeast), edel (southwest), and loe (northwest), in Finnish koillinen (northeast), kaakko (southeast), lounas (southwest), and luode (northwest). In Japanese, there is the interesting situation that native Japanese words (yamato kotoba, kun readings of kanji) are used for the cardinal directions (such as minami for 南, south), but borrowed Chinese words (on readings of kanji) are used for intercardinal directions (such as tō-nan for 東南, southeast, lit. "east-south").[dubious – discuss] In the Malay language, adding laut (sea) to either east (timur) or west (barat) results in northeast or northwest, respectively, whereas adding daya to west (giving barat daya) results in southwest. Southeast has a special word: tenggara.

Sanskrit and other Indian languages that borrow from it use the names of the gods associated with each direction: east (Indra), southeast (Agni), south (Yama/Dharma), southwest (Nirrti), west (Varuna), northwest (Vayu), north (Kubera/Heaven) and northeast (Ishana/Shiva). North is associated with the Himalayas and heaven while the south is associated with the underworld or land of the fathers (Pitr loka). The directions are named by adding "disha" to the names of each god or entity: e.g. Indradisha (direction of Indra) or Pitrdisha (direction of the forefathers i.e. south).

The cardinal directions of the Hopi language are related to the places of sunrise and sunset at the solstices, and correspond approximately to the European intercardinal directions.[27][28][35]

Non-compass directional systems

[edit]

Use of the compass directions is common and deeply embedded in European and Chinese culture (see south-pointing chariot). Some other cultures make greater use of other referents, such as toward the sea or toward the mountains (Hawaii, Bali), or upstream and downstream (most notably in ancient Egypt, also in the Yurok and Karuk languages). Lengo (Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands) has four non-compass directions: landward, seaward, upcoast, and downcoast.[citation needed]

Some languages lack words for body-relative directions such as left/right, and use geographical directions instead.[36]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Cardinal direction

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Cardinal directions, also known as cardinal points, are the four primary compass directions: north (N), east (E), south (S), and west (W), serving as the foundational references for orientation and navigation on Earth. The term "cardinal" originates from the Latin word cardo, meaning "hinge" or "axis," reflecting their role as the principal directions upon which all other directional references are based. These directions are defined relative to the Earth's rotation and the position of the sun, with north pointing toward the North Pole, south toward the South Pole, east corresponding to the direction of sunrise, and west to sunset; east and west lie at right angles to north and south. In and , cardinal directions form the basis of the , a diagram that illustrates their positions and often includes intermediate or ordinal directions such as northeast (NE), southeast (SE), southwest (SW), and northwest (NW), which lie midway between the cardinals. They enable precise location description on maps, facilitate travel across land and sea, and underpin systems like for global positioning. Historically, these directions have roots in astronomical observations, with north aligned to the and east derived from the sun's apparent motion, making them universal tools for human exploration and long before modern instruments.

Basic Concepts

Definition and Usage

Cardinal directions refer to the four principal compass points—north, east, , and west—that serve as fundamental references for orientation on . These directions are grounded in the planet's al axis and the observed positions of the Sun: north aligns with the direction toward the , where 's axis intersects the ; is directly opposite; east corresponds to the direction of 's west-to-east , where the Sun appears to rise; and west is where the Sun sets. This system provides a stable, absolute framework for locating positions relative to the planet's geophysical features, distinct from intermediate or relative bearings. In early societies, cardinal directions held profound significance for survival and cultural practices, guiding long-distance migrations across continents, informing the alignment of settlements and monumental , and structuring rituals tied to seasonal cycles. Archaeological indicates that prehistoric communities worldwide incorporated these directions into site planning, such as orienting structures toward solstice sunrises to mark agricultural or ceremonial events, thereby integrating human activity with natural rhythms. Their use facilitated coordinated group movements and in diverse environments, from Eurasian steppes to African savannas. From a cognitive and psychological perspective, cardinal directions enhance spatial reasoning by offering an allocentric reference system that remains consistent regardless of the observer's facing direction, in contrast to egocentric relative directions like left or right, which vary with bodily orientation. Studies in and demonstrate that reliance on absolute cardinal frames improves accuracy in recalling large-scale layouts and navigating unfamiliar terrains, as seen in cultures where directional habitually employs north-south-east-west terms rather than viewer-centered descriptions. This absolute encoding supports better long-term and problem-solving in environmental cognition tasks. Common universal symbols for cardinal directions include the , a decorative circular emblem originating in medieval that features radiating lines or motifs to denote north, east, south, and west, often appearing on maps to aid visual orientation. Simpler representations, such as crossed arrows with labeled endpoints, also convey these directions effectively in diagrams and .

Determination Methods

Cardinal directions can be determined through various natural methods that rely on observable celestial phenomena. In the , the sun's daily path across the sky provides a basic reference: it rises generally in the east, reaches its highest point due south at noon, and sets in the west, allowing observers to orient east-west lines accordingly, though exact due east and west occur only on the equinoxes. For nighttime in the same hemisphere, , known as the North Star, serves as a reliable indicator of because it remains nearly stationary above the celestial north pole, visible by locating the and following a line from its outer edge stars. In the , the Southern Cross constellation aids in finding south: draw an imaginary line from the top star () through the bottom star () and extend it about 4.5 times the length of the cross's long axis to the horizon to locate the approximate direction of true south. Astronomical techniques offer more precise natural determination without relying solely on direct observation of the sun or stars. The shadow-stick method, using a gnomon such as a vertical stick, involves marking the tip of its shadow at two intervals (e.g., 15-30 minutes apart in the morning) to trace the sun's path; the line connecting these points approximates the east-west direction (earlier mark west, later mark east), and the perpendicular line aligns with true north-south. Alternatively, at local noon, the shortest shadow points due north in the Northern Hemisphere, establishing the north-south line, as the sun is then at its meridian position. This method accounts for the Earth's rotation and the sun's apparent motion, providing an accurate baseline for all cardinal directions once established. Instrumental methods enhance reliability and precision for determining cardinal directions. A magnetic compass uses a magnetized needle that aligns with , pointing toward magnetic north, from which the other directions can be derived by rotating the compass housing marked with cardinal points. The gyrocompass, employing a rapidly spinning , maintains alignment with independent of magnetic influences, making it suitable for marine and aviation where it precesses to parallel the Earth's rotational axis. Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers determine direction by calculating the user's heading from changes in position over time, integrating signals to provide real-time orientation relative to . Adjustments are essential for accuracy in magnetic-based methods due to magnetic declination, the angular difference between magnetic north and true north, which varies by geographic location and changes over time due to shifts in Earth's magnetic field. For instance, in parts of the United States, declination can range from 0° to over 20° east or west, requiring users to add or subtract this value from compass readings to align with true north; tools like NOAA's declination calculators provide location-specific values updated annually.

Expanded Directional Frameworks

Primary Cardinal Directions

The primary cardinal directions are the four fundamental orientations used in and spatial reference: north, , , and west. These directions are defined relative to the Earth's rotational axis and the observer's position, with north corresponding to 0° or 360° on a , east at 90°, south at 180°, and west at 270°; they progress clockwise from north when viewed from above the . This clockwise sequence aligns with the apparent motion of celestial bodies, such as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, providing a consistent framework for angular in and . In global mapping conventions, north is conventionally placed at the top of maps, a practice rooted in European cartographic traditions from the , influenced by the pointing toward the and the prominence of the North Star for . This orientation reflects a bias, as European explorers and mapmakers centered their worldview accordingly, though it persists worldwide despite variations in equatorial regions—where directions may emphasize local solar paths—and southern perspectives, where north-facing orientations often receive more sunlight but maps retain north-up standardization for international consistency. In temperate zones of the , these directions carry environmental associations tied to solar exposure and climate patterns: north is linked to colder conditions due to lower sun angles and reduced daylight in winter, while is associated with warmer environments from greater direct . These associations arise from the Earth's , which positions northern latitudes farther from the sun during winter months, leading to cooler temperatures, whereas south-facing areas capture more year-round. In the , these associations are reversed: is linked to colder conditions, while north is associated with warmer environments from greater direct . Etymologically, the terms for these directions trace to Proto-Indo-European roots reflecting observational cues from the sun's path. For instance, "north" derives from PIE *ner- meaning "left" or "below," as it lies to the left when facing east toward the sunrise; similar solar-based origins appear in "east" from *aus- "to shine" (dawn), "south" from *sawel- "sun" (sunnier side), and "west" from *wes- "evening" (sunset). These primaries serve as the foundational points from which intermediate directions, such as northeast, are derived.

Intercardinal Directions

Intercardinal directions, also known as ordinal directions, are the four intermediate compass points positioned equidistant between the primary cardinal directions of north, east, , and west. These directions are northeast (NE) at 45°, southeast (SE) at 135°, southwest (SW) at 225°, and northwest (NW) at 315°, with angles measured from due north at 0°. They enhance directional precision by bisecting the 90° intervals of the cardinal points, allowing for more accurate spatial reference in various contexts. The naming convention for intercardinal directions employs compound terms, such as "north-east" or "south-west," which combine the adjacent cardinal directions to denote their intermediate position. This linguistic structure facilitates finer navigation by providing a straightforward way to describe orientations that fall between the main axes, reducing ambiguity in route planning and spatial descriptions. In practical applications, these directions are integral to surveying, where they appear in bench mark descriptions to specify relative positions, such as distances measured northwest of a landmark, ensuring reliable recovery of geodetic control points. Similarly, in weather reporting, intercardinal directions categorize wind origins into eight directional bins alongside the cardinals, enabling meteorologists to convey more nuanced patterns, such as northeasterly gusts, in forecasts and analyses. On early maps, they are depicted through compass roses, which evolved to include these points for navigational orientation on nautical charts. The historical development of intercardinal directions traces back to and Roman systems, where they emerged as part of wind roses that incorporated intermediate points to achieve more precise orientation beyond basic cardinal alignments. These frameworks, often tied to regional patterns rather than strictly astronomical references, laid the groundwork for later standardized divisions. Further subdivisions into 16 or 32 points extend this system for applications requiring even greater detail.

Azimuth and Angular Measurement

refers to the horizontal angle measured clockwise from to a specified direction, quantified in degrees from 0° to 360°. This measurement provides a precise, angular framework for expressing directions on the Earth's surface, extending beyond named cardinal points to any orientation. In relation to cardinal directions, the primary points align with multiples of 90°: north at 0°, east at 90°, at 180°, and west at 270°. Intercardinal directions occupy the 45° intervals between them, such as northeast at 45°, southeast at 135°, southwest at 225°, and northwest at 315°. This angular system allows for uniform quantification of all horizontal bearings, facilitating applications in , , and geospatial analysis. Mathematically, can be computed from vector components in a local north-east coordinate frame using the two-argument arctangent function, which handles all quadrants correctly: θ=\atan2(e,n)\theta = \atan2(e, n) where ee is the eastward component, nn is the northward component, and θ\theta is the angle in radians (typically converted to degrees by multiplying by 180/π180 / \pi). This formula derives from the of the horizontal plane, treating north as the axis and east as the . Distinctions exist between true azimuth, referenced to the geographic (true) north pole, and magnetic azimuth, referenced to the magnetic north pole as indicated by a compass. The magnetic declination Δ\Delta, which is the angular difference between true and magnetic north, corrects between them via Δ=\Delta = true azimuth −- magnetic azimuth; values of Δ\Delta vary by location and over time due to Earth's magnetic field changes. In practice, true azimuth is preferred for precise navigation to align with geographic coordinates. Azimuth measurements also find application in astronomy for tracking celestial objects relative to the horizon.

Historical and Linguistic Origins

Germanic and Indo-European Roots

The cardinal directions in trace their origins to Proto-Indo-European (PIE), the reconstructed ancestor of the Indo-European language family spoken around 4500–2500 BCE. For "east," the PIE root is *aus- (or *h₂ews-), meaning "to shine" or "dawn," reflecting the direction of sunrise. This root evolved into Proto-Germanic *austrą, denoting "dawn" or "eastward." Similarly, "west" derives from PIE *wes- (possibly from *wes-pero-, meaning "evening" or "to go down"), associated with sunset, which became Proto-Germanic *westraz. "North" is linked to PIE *ner- ("left" or "below"), potentially indicating the left side when facing east, yielding Proto-Germanic *nurþą; however, this connection remains debated among linguists due to uncertainties in the root's semantic shift. In contrast, "south" in Germanic stems from PIE *sawel- ("the sun"), suggesting the sun's southern path in northern latitudes, leading to Proto-Germanic *sunþaz ("sun-side"). In the Germanic branch, these PIE forms developed into specific terms during the Proto-Germanic period (circa 500 BCE–200 CE). The Old English equivalents, spoken by Anglo-Saxon settlers from the 5th century CE, were norþ (north), ēast (east), sūþ (south), and west (west), directly inherited from Proto-West Germanic forms like *nurþ, *aust, *sunþ, and *west. A variant influence appears in the Proto-Germanic *aurtha- for east in some reconstructions, emphasizing the auroral shine, though *austrą is more widely attested. These terms were stable across , forming the basis for , Dutch, and German directional vocabulary. The spread of these terms occurred through migrations of . Anglo-Saxon invaders and settlers from and introduced directional words to Britain starting in the CE, supplanting earlier Celtic and Latin influences and establishing them in Middle and Modern English. Concurrently, Viking expansions from the 8th to 11th centuries carried North Germanic variants—such as Old Norse norðr, austr, suðr, and vestr—into and parts of Britain, reinforcing similar Proto-Germanic roots in Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian while contributing minor lexical overlaps to English dialects in the regions. Comparative linguistics reveals parallels with other Indo-European branches. For instance, the PIE *aus- for east aligns with uṣás ("dawn") and Latin aurōra ("dawn"), both evoking sunrise. West's PIE *wes- corresponds to Latin vesper ("evening") and Greek hésperos ("evening star"), underscoring the sunset association. South's solar link in Germanic echoes dákṣiṇa ("southern," from "right-hand side" facing east), though the exact PIE pathway differs, while north's potential "left" connotation matches debated Indo-European handedness systems. These cognates highlight how directional terminology diffused across from the Pontic-Caspian .

Evolution of Directional Terminology

The evolution of directional terminology in European languages traces its foundations to Germanic and Indo-European roots, which supplied the core vocabulary for north, east, , and west that persisted and adapted across centuries. During the medieval period, cartographic practices in marked a key development in how directions were denoted. Portolan charts, emerging in the 13th century and maturing by the 1400s, incorporated roses with abbreviated wind names—such as T for Tramontana (north) and L for Levante (east)—to aid Mediterranean . By the early 15th century, as cartographers revived classical techniques, these evolved into the standardized abbreviations N, E, S, and W, drawn from Latin terms like Septentrio (north), Oriens (east), Meridies (), and Occidens (west), appearing on printed maps to streamline orientation and reduce textual clutter. Colonial expansion amplified the dissemination of these English-derived abbreviations worldwide. Through the British Empire's mapping initiatives from the 16th to 19th centuries, English terms and notations supplanted local directional systems in colonized regions, as seen in surveys of , , and the where imperial cartographers prioritized uniformity for administrative and military purposes, embedding N, E, S, W in global standards. Efforts toward international standardization accelerated in the early . The advocated consistent use of cardinal abbreviations in nautical charts and to harmonize global maritime communication.

Cultural and Regional Variations

Northern Eurasia and

In European cartography, maps have historically been oriented with north at the top, a convention that emerged during the and became standardized due to the influence of European mapmakers and the practical alignment with magnetic compasses pointing north. This orientation facilitated navigation and , placing prominently in the on world maps. The traditional in European nautical charts divides the circle into 32 or more points, proceeding clockwise from north through east, , and west, a system that evolved from medieval wind roses and was refined in Mediterranean portolan charts by the . The term "," used in European contexts to refer to eastern regions, derives from the Latin oriens, meaning "rising" or "dawn," directly associating the east with the direction of the sunrise and symbolizing exotic or unknown lands beyond Europe's borders. This linguistic and cultural framing persisted in , , and , reinforcing a Eurocentric where the east represented both opportunity and otherness. In broader Indo-European traditions, such solar associations influenced directional across languages. Among Northern Eurasian indigenous groups, the employ cardinal direction expressions that are deeply tied to local landscapes, with terms varying by and often oriented relative to geographical features like the , rivers, or rather than a universal grid. For instance, in coastal , the primary axis may align west-east along the shoreline, reflecting adaptive in environments. These systems prioritize relational orientation to natural elements, differing from fixed compass-based models. In Russian directional terminology, "vostok" for east originates from vŭstokŭ, meaning "rising" or "dawn," echoing solar etymologies common in and linking to the cultural emphasis on the sunrise. This term intersects with Orthodox Christianity, where churches are ritually oriented with altars facing east—symbolizing Christ's and the direction of prayer—thus embedding "vostok" in liturgical and architectural practices across . Norse mythology integrates cardinal directions into its cosmology centered on , the , with the north associated with cold, darkness, and the realm of the dead known as Hel or . One of Yggdrasil's roots extends northward into , where Hel resides as ruler of the underworld, receiving those who die from illness or in a shadowy continuation of earthly existence rather than punishment. This northward placement underscores themes of fate and the inevitable journey to the grave, contrasting with warmer, life-affirming southern realms. In modern Northern Eurasia and , directional uniformity has been achieved through supranational standards, particularly in the , where road signage follows the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, using consistent symbols and cardinal direction indicators for multilingual clarity. For , EU member states adhere to ICAO Annex 2 standards, employing standardized English phraseology for cardinal directions (e.g., "fly heading 090 degrees" for east) to ensure safe, interoperable across borders. These frameworks promote seamless mobility while accommodating regional linguistic variations in ground applications.

Arabic and Middle Eastern Traditions

In Arabic and Middle Eastern traditions, cardinal directions are denoted by terms deeply rooted in natural phenomena and daily observations. The word for east, sharq, derives from the meaning "to rise," referring to the sunrise, while west, gharb, comes from the "to set," alluding to sunset. North is shamal or shamāl, associated with the , and south is janūb, stemming from the root janb meaning "side," possibly indicating the southern flank relative to the observer's perspective. A central element in these traditions is the , the sacred direction toward the Kaaba in Mecca, which Muslims face during the five daily prayers (salat). This orientation is calculated using great-circle paths on the Earth's surface, representing the shortest route over the , rather than rhumb lines, to ensure precision across distances. Since the late 9th century, Muslim scholars have developed instrumental methods, including early qibla compasses and astrolabes, to determine this direction accurately, integrating astronomy with religious practice. The profoundly influences mosque architecture, where the —a niche in the qibla wall—marks the prayer direction, and the entire prayer hall aligns accordingly to facilitate communal worship. Historical advancements in directional precision are exemplified by the 11th-century polymath Al-Biruni, who in works like al-Qānūn al-Masʿūdī provided innovative spherical trigonometric formulas for computing the qibla based on latitude and longitude differences from Mecca. These calculations employed azimuth angles to refine orientations, enabling reliable determinations even in remote regions and underscoring the fusion of Islamic theology with mathematical astronomy in Middle Eastern directional systems.

North American Indigenous Systems

North American Indigenous directional systems exhibit significant diversity, reflecting the cultural, environmental, and spiritual contexts of various tribes and nations across the continent. Unlike the standardized compass-based framework of European origin, these systems often integrate directions with natural elements, cycles of life, and relational orientations to the land, emphasizing harmony and interconnectedness. A prominent feature in many traditions is the association of cardinal directions with specific colors, symbolizing spiritual and natural qualities. For the (Diné), east is linked to , representing dawn and purity; south to or , evoking sky and growth; west to , signifying dusk and maturity; and north to , denoting night and introspection. In contrast, the Lakota associate east with for enlightenment and renewal; south with for nourishment and joy; west with for introspection and rain; and north with for wisdom and endurance. The Hopi align with east for beginnings, with south for warmth, with west for water, and with north for earth and stability. These color-direction correspondences often extend to sacred items like corn varieties, textiles, and ceremonial , reinforcing cosmological balance. Among the Lakota, the —known as the Sacred Hoop—serves as a central framework tying directions to sacred cycles of seasons and life stages, promoting holistic understanding of existence. The wheel's quadrants align east with spring and birth or infancy, symbolizing emergence and spiritual growth; south with summer and youth, representing physical vitality and emotional expansion; west with autumn and adulthood, embodying intellectual reflection and harvest; and north with winter and elderhood or death, signifying wisdom, purification, and renewal. This cyclical model, often depicted as a circle divided by crossed lines with an eagle feather at the center, underscores the interconnectedness of all life phases and natural rhythms, guiding rituals, healing practices, and daily orientations. In Arctic regions, some Inuit communities employ non-cardinal bases for orientation, prioritizing relational and environmental cues over fixed magnetic north. Directions may reference land (nunalik, toward the mainland) versus (nigiqtuq, toward open water), adapting to coastal or ice-bound landscapes where horizons and visibility define spatial . form a primary , with four principal ones named for consistency: Uangnaq (northwest, the prevailing wind shaping snowdrifts); Kanangnaq (northeast); Nigiq (southeast); and Akinnaq (southwest, influencing ice movement). Hunters and travelers use these , along with resulting snow patterns (uqalurait), formations, and swells, to maintain bearings, as provide reliable, embodied references in vast, featureless terrains. European colonization profoundly disrupted these systems from the onward, through policies of , land dispossession, and cultural suppression that eroded transmission. Residential schools, implemented widely in the 19th and 20th centuries, banned Indigenous languages, ceremonies, and teachings, including directional frameworks embedded in oral traditions and rituals, leading to intergenerational loss. Post-19th century, this suppression extended to outlawing practices like the ceremonies, viewing them as pagan. In response, revitalization efforts since the mid-20th century have reclaimed and adapted these systems, integrating them into contemporary healing, education, and programs to restore cultural . Some tribes have briefly extended these to intercardinal points for finer navigational or ceremonial precision.

South Asian and Indian Contexts

In South Asian and Indian cultural traditions, particularly within , cardinal directions are deeply intertwined with cosmology, , and practices, as outlined in ancient Vedic and Puranic texts. These directions are not merely navigational but symbolize cosmic order, elemental forces, and divine guardianship, influencing everything from temple layouts to daily orientations. Rooted in texts dating back to the around 1500 BCE, such concepts emphasize harmony between human structures and the universe's energies. The terminology for cardinal directions reflects this symbolic depth: purva denotes east, dakshina south, paschima west, and uttara north. Each direction is associated with specific deities known as Dikpalas, or guardians, who oversee cosmic balance; for instance, , the god of rain and thunder, presides over the east. These associations appear in classical Ayurvedic and astronomical texts like the , where directions guide therapeutic and ritual alignments. A primary application of these directional principles is found in , the ancient science of derived from Vedic literature such as the Rig Veda and Atharva Veda. prescribes orientations for buildings to align with natural energies, dividing spaces via the Vastu Purusha Mandala—a symbolic grid representing a cosmic being pinned to the earth. The northeast (ishanya) direction, governed by (a form of ), is deemed auspicious for prosperity, entrances, and water sources like wells, as it channels positive cosmic flows; this stems from texts like the Kashyapa Shilpa Shastra and Brihat Samhita, composed between the 6th century BCE and 6th century CE. South-facing designs, linked to , are often reserved for stability in administrative structures, while east-facing entrances promote vitality through morning sunlight. In , as detailed in the , directions are protected by eight primary Dikpalas for the cardinal and intercardinal points, extending to ten when including zenith (Brahma) and nadir (Vishnu). The assigns to the east (city: ), Agni to the southeast (Tejovati), to the south (Samyamini), Nirriti to the southwest (Krishnavati), to the west (Shuddhavati), to the northwest (Gandhavati), to the north (Mahodaya), and to the northeast (). These guardians, depicted in temple iconography with vehicles and consorts, maintain universal order and are invoked in rituals to ward off chaos, as elaborated in the . Intermediate Dikpalas ensure comprehensive protection, embodying elements like fire () and water (). Despite British colonial influences from the , which prioritized Western grid-based and marginalized indigenous systems, has seen a resurgence in post-independence . Architects like and Yatin Pandya have integrated Vastu principles into modern designs, such as orientation for natural ventilation and spatial symmetry in projects like the Environmental Sanitation Institute in . In contemporary , this manifests in sustainable developments, like east-facing residential complexes for energy efficiency, blending Vedic harmony with global standards to address rapid .

Australian Indigenous Frameworks

Australian Indigenous directional systems often diverge from fixed cardinal points, instead integrating landscape features, ancestral narratives, and environmental cues to orient movement and cultural practices. These frameworks emphasize relational and contextual , where directions are embedded in the living landscape known as , reflecting a holistic that connects , place, and cosmology. Unlike Western compass-based systems, Indigenous orientations prioritize songlines—ancestral pathways that guide travel through memorized stories, songs, and landmarks—allowing navigation across vast distances without reliance on absolute north-south axes. Songlines serve as dynamic navigational tools, tying directions to the paths of ancestral beings from the Dreaming era, which are imprinted on the land and sometimes mirrored in the stars. For instance, among the Wardaman people of northern Australia, songlines function as oral maps that encode routes, water sources, and food locations, with travelers reciting verses to follow these ancestral tracks precisely. The Yolngu people of northeastern Arnhem Land similarly use songlines in ceremonies like the Morning Star ritual, where directions follow the path of Venus across the sky, linking terrestrial journeys to celestial movements for orientation during travel. These systems avoid rigid cardinals, instead using body orientations—such as preferred sleeping directions aligned with cultural centers—to reinforce spatial awareness, as seen in Wardaman practices where individuals sleep facing east to align with Dreaming energies. Terminology for directions varies significantly across language groups, often reflecting local geography rather than universal cardinals. In coastal communities like the Yanyuwa of the southwestern , "up the country" denotes movement inland toward higher or drier , while "down to the sea" indicates descent to coastal areas, prioritizing and water flow over east-west distinctions. This relational vocabulary underscores a landscape-centric approach, where orientations are derived from immediate environmental gradients rather than abstract grids. Directions in Dreamtime stories frequently map onto seasonal cycles, integrating wet and dry periods with ancestral journeys to encode temporal and spatial knowledge. For the Wardaman, songlines associated with the Southern Cross constellation delineate seasonal transitions, linking directional paths to the wet season's onset and the dry season's progression through narratives that describe ancestral travels during specific patterns. These stories preserve ecological cues, such as star positions signaling the wet season's rains, ensuring that aligns with seasonal resource availability. Since the 1970s land rights movements, such as the 1976 Aboriginal Land Rights () Act, there have been concerted efforts to preserve and document these directional frameworks through community-led mapping and archival projects. Aboriginal groups have used recordings and oral histories in native claims to assert ownership over routes, revitalizing traditional navigation knowledge amid cultural resurgence. Initiatives like the National Museum of Australia's Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters project, launched in 2017, collaborate with Indigenous custodians to digitally map ancestral paths, safeguarding this knowledge for future generations while integrating it into contemporary .

Specialized Applications

Astronomical Orientations

In astronomical observations, cardinal directions serve as foundational references for locating celestial features, particularly through the concept of . The north , the projection of Earth's rotational axis into the northern sky, is closely aligned with the star (Alpha Ursae Minoris), which has served as a reliable indicator of the sky's "north" for navigators and observers in the due to its proximity to this pole, currently less than 1 degree away. In the , the south lacks a bright counterpart; (), a faint star of magnitude 5.47 in the constellation , lies approximately one degree from this pole and thus defines the sky's "south," though its dimness limits its practical use without aids. These poles anchor the apparent daily rotation of the stars around the , mirroring Earth's cardinal orientations. Historically, early astronomers integrated cardinal directions into sky divisions for systematic observation. Around 2000 BCE, during the Old Babylonian period, Mesopotamian astral omens in texts correlated celestial phenomena, such as planetary and stellar positions, with directional winds associated with geographical quadrants in the four cardinal directions: east (Akkad), west (Amurru), north (), and south (). This approach laid groundwork for later coordinate systems by associating sky events with terrestrial directions. The further adapts cardinal principles for precise celestial mapping. functions analogously to terrestrial , measured eastward along the from the vernal equinox in hours, minutes, and seconds, while corresponds to , ranging from -90° to +90° relative to the . For alt- telescopes, which track objects using altitude (height above the horizon) and (horizontal angle from north), these coordinates are converted to align with Earth's cardinals, enabling amateurs to point instruments accurately by setting the local meridian as the north reference. Contemporary amateur astronomy tools leverage these alignments for accessible sky exploration. Planispheres, or star finders, rotate to match the date and time, with overlaid grids oriented to cardinal directions via a built-in compass to identify constellations and stars visible overhead. Similarly, mobile applications like SkySafari and Stellarium use device compasses and GPS to overlay cardinal-aligned augmented reality views, simulating equatorial coordinates and highlighting objects in real-time based on the user's horizon. Azimuth measurements in these tools facilitate telescope pointing by integrating north as the zero reference. In modern navigation, (GPS) technology and digital mapping applications rely heavily on cardinal directions to provide users with oriented guidance. Applications like typically display maps in a north-up orientation by default, aligning the top of the screen with to facilitate intuitive spatial awareness and route planning. (AR) overlays in these systems further integrate cardinal directions by superimposing directional arrows and indicators on live camera views, helping pedestrians and drivers align their movements with north, , east, or west relative to their position. In aviation, cardinal directions underpin instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) navigation through standardized headings expressed in degrees from magnetic north. Runway designations, for instance, are numbered based on the magnetic azimuth of the runway centerline, rounded to the nearest 10 degrees and omitting the zero; thus, a runway oriented approximately east (90°) is labeled Runway 09 or 27 depending on the approach direction. Maritime shipping employs similar conventions, with shipboard magnetic compasses required to indicate cardinal points—north (N), east (E), south (S), and west (W)—to establish headings for course plotting and collision avoidance under international standards. These degree-based systems, derived from the 360° circle centered on north, ensure precise coordination in both IFR/VFR flights and vessel transits across global routes. Meteorological forecasting and storm tracking incorporate cardinal directions via 8-point or 16-point systems to describe wind patterns and system movements accurately. The , for example, reports offshore wind directions using the 8 principal points (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW) measured at 10 meters above the sea surface, enabling predictions of storm trajectories and coastal impacts. This granular directional framework, extending to intercardinal points in 16-point scales for finer resolution, supports real-time tracking of tropical cyclones and weather fronts by aligning observations with fixed geographic bearings. Urban planning often aligns street grids to cardinal directions to promote efficient and in growing cities. In , the 1811 Commissioners' Plan established a rectilinear grid with avenues running north-south and streets east-west, oriented to the island's axis and to simplify addressing, , and expansion. This cardinal alignment, common in many North American cities, reduces disorientation by providing consistent directional cues, such as "head north on Broadway," and facilitates infrastructure like utilities and public transit routing.

Alternative Directional Systems

Non-Compass Based Orientations

Non-compass based orientations rely on dynamic or environmental references rather than fixed cardinal points, allowing communities to navigate using immediate sensory cues or local features. In relative systems, directions are defined egocentrically relative to the navigator's facing or motion, such as designating "forward" as the primary bearing. Polynesian and Micronesian wayfinders exemplify this approach, employing and ocean waves to maintain orientation without static references. Navigators assess wave patterns by the angle at which swells strike the vessel, interpreting them as indicators of underlying currents and swells from distant landmasses, thereby updating their course relative to the boat's heading. Stars near the horizon serve as transient guides, with specific constellations signaling adjustments to the forward path during voyages . This facing-based method integrates path integration—mentally tracking displacement—and backsighting to landmarks, enabling long-distance travel solely through relative positioning. Landscape-relative orientations anchor directions to prominent geographical features, treating them as dynamic axes rather than absolute points. In Andean cultures, such as those speaking Quechua and Aymara, navigation often revolves around river flows and mountain slopes, with terms like hanan (upper or upriver) and hurin (lower or downriver) defining spatial relations relative to the local . These terms reflect the verticality of Andean landscapes, where "up" corresponds to the direction toward higher elevations or the river's source, and "down" toward the valley or sea, superseding left-right distinctions in everyday . Communities use these references to traverse terraced highlands, integrating them with seasonal water courses to denote paths without invoking external cardinal frameworks. This system emphasizes ecological integration, as rivers and mountains serve as both navigational aids and cultural boundaries. Time-based orientations derive directional cues from the sun's daily arc, inferring position through its observed path at specific times without relying on permanent fixed points. Various indigenous groups, including some Pacific Islanders, track the sun's progression from horizon to and back to gauge relative bearings, such as aligning "forward" with the position or adjusting for seasonal variations in . This method allows for fluid by correlating time of day with solar angles, enabling course corrections based on the light's shifting orientation across the . In resource-scarce environments, it provides a rhythmic, non-static reference for movement, particularly during overcast conditions when combined with residual wave or wind patterns.

Unique Intercardinal Naming Conventions

In certain languages, intercardinal directions—northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest—are denoted by distinct, non-compound terms rather than combinations of primary cardinal direction names, reflecting unique lexical developments tied to environmental, cultural, or historical factors. These monomorphemic or historically independent terms contrast with the more common compounding strategy seen in languages like English (e.g., "northwest") or Chinese (e.g., "dōngběi" for northeast). Such naming conventions are documented in linguistic studies of spatial reference systems, where they often derive from ancient roots unrelated to the core cardinals, emphasizing conceptual independence in directional cognition. Among of Northern , Finnish employs unique terms for intercardinals that are not direct blends of the primaries (pohjoinen for north, itä for east, etelä for , länsi for west). Northeast is koillinen, southeast is kaakko, southwest is lounas (etymologically linked to midday or , evoking solar position), and northwest is luode, each functioning as a standalone in modern usage. Similarly, in Estonian, a close relative, the intercardinals are kirre (northeast), kagu (southeast), edel (southwest), and loode (northwest), preserving non-composite forms inherited from , which linguists trace to pre-Indo-European substrates. These systems highlight a pattern in where intercardinals evolved as primary lexical items, possibly influenced by boreal navigation needs. In Breton, a Celtic language spoken in , , intercardinal naming also deviates from , with terms like ar gwalarn (northwest, literally "" but treated as a fixed unit), ar mervent (southwest, "sea wind"), ar gevred (southeast), and hanternoz (northeast, "half-night" referencing twilight). These draw from meteorological or temporal associations rather than cardinal fusions, a trait shared with related Brythonic tongues. Turning to Oceanian traditions, Hawaiian voyaging culture features a star compass with 32 directional points, where intercardinal-like quadrants bear distinct names derived from winds rather than compounds. The northeast quadrant is Ko'olau ( from that sector), northwest is Ho'olua, southeast is Malanai, and southwest is Kona, integral to non-instrumental across the Pacific. These terms, embedded in oral practices, underscore environmental ties, with finer intercardinal points named after rising/setting stars (e.g., Na Hulu o nā Mānakā for a northeast-oriented house star). Linguistically, monomorphemic intercardinal terms versus compounds represent a minority globally, concentrated in isolate or small families like Uralic (e.g., Finnic branches) and Celtic outliers, as cataloged in cross-linguistic databases on spatial semantics. This scarcity highlights how most languages prioritize derivational efficiency through , while unique cases often stem from archaic solar, wind, or landscape metaphors, preserving cognitive distinctiveness in directional encoding.

References

  1. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/sun-earth-and-cardinal-directions/
  2. https://www.geographyrealm.com/cardinal-directions-ordinal-directions/
  3. https://www.ck12.org/flexi/physical-science/direction-in-physics/why-are-the-four-main-directions-referred-to-as-cardinal-directions/
  4. https://www.worldatlas.com/geography/cardinal-directions-and-compass-rose.html
  5. https://nauticalchannel.com/new/cardinal-points
  6. https://hsm.stackexchange.com/questions/8473/what-is-the-origin-of-the-four-cardinal-directions-north-east-south-and-west
  7. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdfplus/10.1086/462630
  8. https://pure.mpg.de/rest/items/item_59517_3/component/file_2628376/content
  9. https://legacy.geog.ucsb.edu/a-rose-is-a-rose/
  10. https://solar-center.stanford.edu/AO/sunrise.html
  11. https://physics.weber.edu/schroeder/ua/sunandseasons.html
  12. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/what-is-the-north-star-and-how-do-you-find-it/
  13. https://www.exploratorium.edu/never-lost/navigation/basics-wayfinding/set-course-which-way
  14. https://teara.govt.nz/en/diagram/7486/navigating-by-the-southern-cross
  15. https://www.umass.edu/sunwheel/pages/lesson1.html
  16. https://hea-www.harvard.edu/ECT/the_book/Chap1/Chapter1.html
  17. https://www.usgs.gov/educational-resources/what-direction-am-i-facing
  18. https://coriolix.ceoas.oregonstate.edu/ptsur/sensor/info/gyroco000001/
  19. https://www.ats.amherst.edu/software/gis10/using_gps/
  20. https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/declination.shtml
  21. https://www.usgs.gov/educational-resources/magnetic-declination-varies-considerably-across-united-states
  22. https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag-web/
  23. https://homepages.uc.edu/~huffwd/Topo_Map/find_your_way_USGS.html
  24. https://legacy.geog.ucsb.edu/why-is-north-up-on-maps/
  25. https://manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/physical/world-ocean/map-distortion/compare-contrast-connect-map-orientation-and-shape
  26. https://www.weather.gov/fsd/season
  27. https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/orientation
  28. https://www.etymonline.com/word/north
  29. https://www.etymonline.com/word/east
  30. https://www.etymonline.com/word/south
  31. https://www.etymonline.com/word/west
  32. https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/publications/Users_Guide_to_Vertical_Control_and_Geodetic_Leveling_for_CO-OPS_Observing_Systems-May_2018.pdf
  33. https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/61441/noaa_61441_DS1.pdf
  34. https://www.academia.edu/98667870/Symbolism_of_Compass_Roses_on_Early_Modern_Nautical_Charts_of_the_Adriatic_Sea
  35. https://www.topoi.org/project/c-5-5/
  36. https://www.oc.nps.edu/oc2902w/coord/coodterm.pdf
  37. https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/18_phak_ch16.pdf
  38. https://www.e-education.psu.edu/natureofgeoinfo/c5_p7.html
  39. http://eqseis.geosc.psu.edu/cammon/HTML/UsingMATLAB/PDF/ML2%2520PlateVelocity.pdf
  40. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20200003207/downloads/20200003207.pdf
  41. https://www.atu.edu/rotc/docs/7_fm3_25x26.pdf
  42. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/magnetic-declination
  43. https://science.nasa.gov/learn/basics-of-space-flight/chapter2-2/
  44. https://linguistics.stackexchange.com/questions/1077/what-are-the-historical-origins-of-terms-for-north-south-east-and-west
  45. https://www.sdshipmodelersguild.org/public/scuttlebutt/frmCompassRose.htm
  46. https://press.uchicago.edu/books/hoc/HOC_V3_Pt1/HOC_VOLUME3_Part1_chapter22.pdf
  47. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16967/map-of-the-british-empire-1897/
  48. https://iho.int/uploads/user/pubs/misc/M-10_2019_EN.pdf
  49. https://press.uchicago.edu/books/hoc/HOC_V3_Pt1/HOC_VOLUME3_Part1_chapter7.pdf
  50. https://dea.lib.unideb.hu/bitstreams/d7684886-3bb2-46a7-9b0c-641bff68342f/download
  51. https://norse-mythology.org/cosmology/the-nine-worlds/helheim/
  52. https://www.quora.com/In-the-Arabic-language-the-words-West-and-strange-share-the-same-root-Is-there-a-deeper-meaning-behind-this-Did-Arabs-associate-the-West-with-Otherness-Did-they-define-themselves-as-being-of-the-East-in-the-same-way
  53. https://www.facebook.com/arabicunlocked/posts/do-you-notice-the-arabic-word-for-west-gharb-shares-the-same-root-with-the-word-/1026271962469699/
  54. https://urduwallahs.com/2013/12/07/north-south-east-west/
  55. https://www.omniglot.com/language/directions/compassdirections.htm
  56. https://webspace.science.uu.nl/~gent0113/islam/qibla.htm
  57. https://www.geomete.com/abdali/papers/qibcomp.pdf
  58. https://www.metmuseum.org/learn/educators/curriculum-resources/art-of-the-islamic-world/unit-one/the-mosque
  59. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/introduction-cultures-religions-apah/islam-apah/a/introduction-to-mosque-architecture
  60. https://www.jphogendijk.nl/talks/uqu-main.pdf
  61. https://hal.science/hal-02264631/document
  62. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices/exhibition/healing-ways/medicine-ways/medicine-wheel.html
  63. https://navajopeople.org/blog/the-navajo-four-cardinal-directions/
  64. https://aktalakota.stjo.org/lakota-culture/lakota-medicine-wheel/
  65. https://itep.education.arizona.edu/logos
  66. https://www.sensorystudies.org/inuit-orienting-traveling-along-familiar-horizons/
  67. https://www.anijaarniq.com/winds
  68. https://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~rabin/alaska/Gearheard_2009_winds.pdf
  69. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7055951/
  70. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383524438_Erosion_and_Revival_The_Impact_of_European_Colonization_on_the_Indigenous_Cultural_Practices_of_Western_Massachusetts_and_the_Burnt_Hill_Standing_Stones
  71. https://www.ijert.org/vastu-shastra-a-vedic-approach-to-architecture
  72. https://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/index.php?title=Disha
  73. https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/dikpala
  74. https://mahavidya.ca/2016/04/22/the-dikpalas/
  75. https://www.csp.indica.in/influence-of-vastu-on-modern-indian-architecture/
  76. https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/architectural-community/a11528-relevance-of-vastu-shastra-in-architecture/
  77. http://www.aboriginalastronomy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Norris-2014-Songlines-Navigation.pdf
  78. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdfplus/10.1086/698697
  79. https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/land-rights
  80. https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/songs-land-rights-and-archives-australia
  81. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/sep/16/songlines-at-the-nma-a-breathtaking-triumph-of-21st-century-museology
  82. https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/skytellers/polaris/
  83. http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/polaust.html
  84. https://www.academia.edu/3795978/Directionality_and_Geography_in_Mesopotamian_Astral_Omens
  85. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/right-ascension-declination-celestial-coordinates/
  86. https://in-the-sky.org/planisphere/index.php
  87. https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/top-astronomy-kit/best-astronomy-stargazing-apps
  88. https://umaine.edu/vemi/resource/designing-mobile-spatial-navigation-systems-from-the-users-perspective-an-interdisciplinary-review/
  89. https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap2_section_3.html
  90. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/AssemblyDocuments/A.382%2810%29.pdf
  91. https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/abouttafbprod.shtml
  92. https://appliednetsci.springeropen.com/articles/10.1007/s41109-019-0189-1
  93. https://assets.press.princeton.edu/chapters/s11344.pdf
  94. https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/lnc3.12393
  95. https://manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/physical/navigation-and-transportation/wayfinding-and-navigation
  96. https://linguistics.stackexchange.com/questions/26244/is-there-a-language-with-distinct-non-compound-words-for-cardinal-diagonal-dire
  97. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285348280_Where_do_cardinal_direction_terms_come_from
  98. https://www.speaklanguages.com/finnish/vocab/points-of-the-compass
  99. http://maakeel.weebly.com/keeleblogi/kaheksa-ilmakaart-1-osa-the-eight-directions-part-1
  100. https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/Language/Breton/Vocabulary/Directions
  101. https://hokulea.com/polynesian-wayfinding/
  102. https://www.manoaheritagecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Hawaiian-Star-Compass.pdf
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.