What value is assigned to points north of the equator?

In geographic coordinate systems, points north of the equator are assigned positive values when measuring latitude. The equator itself is defined as 0 degrees latitude, serving as the baseline from which latitude is measured. As one moves northward from the equator, the latitude values increase positively, reaching up to 90 degrees at the North Pole. This convention is established to create a standardized way of representing geographic locations on the Earth's surface.

This system helps in various applications, including navigation, mapping, and positioning, as it allows for a clear distinction between northern and southern hemispheres. In contrast, locations south of the equator are assigned negative latitude values, further emphasizing the positive value attribution to points in the northern hemisphere. Understanding this positive and negative value system is critical for working effectively with geographic data and performing various analyses in GIS.