ekvatoriellt

Ekvatoriellt is a Swedish adjective and adverb meaning relating to the equator, or situated near or along the Earth's equator or the celestial equator. The term is used across disciplines to describe orientation, projection, or zones that are characteristic of the equator. It derives from ekvator, the equator, with the suffix -ellt, producing the adverbial form ekvatoriellt.

In astronomy, ekvatoriell is used to describe coordinate systems and instruments aligned with the equator. The ekvatoriella koordinatsystemet, or equatorial coordinate system, uses right ascension and declination referenced to the celestial equator. Telescopes with an ekvatoriell montering (equatorial mount) are designed to track celestial objects by rotating around an axis aligned with Earth's rotation. The term also appears in discussions of sky maps and projections that emphasize the equatorial plane.

In geography and climatology, ekvatoriellt describes features associated with the Earth's equator. This includes regions and climates near the equator, where temperatures are typically high and seasonal variation is minimal, as well as vegetation zones such as ekvatoriala regnskogar (equatorial rainforests) and other ecological contexts centered on the tropical belt.

In practice, the word is a general descriptor indicating alignment, location, or relation to the equator, rather than a specialized technical concept confined to one field. Its precise meaning is usually obvious from context, whether discussing celestial coordinates, telescope equipment, or geographic and climatic zones. See also equator, equatorial coordinate system, and equatorial mount.