loksodroomina

Loksodroomina is a term that refers to a rhumb line, which is a line on the surface of a sphere or spheroid that crosses all meridians at the same angle. This constant angle is known as the course or bearing. On a Mercator projection map, a rhumb line appears as a straight line. This property makes rhumb lines very useful for navigation, as a navigator can steer a constant compass course to follow a rhumb line.

The concept of a rhumb line is distinct from a great circle, which is the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere. While a great circle is a more efficient route in terms of distance, it requires a constantly changing course to maintain. Navigators often use both rhumb lines and great circles depending on the specific requirements of their voyage. For shorter distances, the difference between a rhumb line and a great circle is often negligible, but for longer voyages, the savings in distance offered by a great circle can be significant.

The mathematical representation of a rhumb line involves a spiral path that approaches the poles but never reaches them, unless the starting and ending points are on the same meridian. This is because the constant angle with the meridians leads to a gradual convergence. The use of rhumb lines has been a cornerstone of maritime and aerial navigation for centuries, facilitated by the development of tools like the compass and advanced mapping techniques.