@ue-too/border / rhumbDistance

Function: rhumbDistance()

rhumbDistance(startCoord, endCoord): number

Defined in: rhumbLine.ts:42

Calculates the distance along a rhumb line between two points.

Parameters

startCoord

GeoCoord

The starting geographic coordinate

endCoord

GeoCoord

The ending geographic coordinate

Returns

number

The distance in meters along the rhumb line

Remarks

A rhumb line (also called loxodrome) is a path of constant bearing. Unlike great circles, rhumb lines appear as straight lines on Mercator projections, making them easier for navigation.

Rhumb lines are generally slightly longer than great circle routes, except when traveling due east/west along the equator or due north/south.

Uses Earth's mean radius of 6,371,000 meters.

Example

const start = { latitude: 50.0, longitude: -5.0 };
const end = { latitude: 58.0, longitude: 3.0 };

const distance = rhumbDistance(start, end);
console.log('Rhumb distance:', distance / 1000, 'km');

// Compare with great circle distance
const gcDistance = greatCircleDistance(start, end);
console.log('Great circle is', (distance - gcDistance) / 1000, 'km shorter');