Dipole model of the Earth's magnetic field (MLAT), or geomagnetic latitude, formula_10 is measured northwards from the equator (analogous to geographic latitude) and is related to formula_9 by formula_12. In this case, the radial and azimuthal components of the magnetic field (the latter still in the formula_9 direction, measured from the axis of the north pole) are given by formula_14 formula_15 formula_16 where formula_17 in this case has units of Earth radii (formula_18). Invariant latitude is a parameter that describes where a particular magnetic field line touches the surface of the Earth. It is given by formula_19 or formula_20 where formula_21 is the invariant latitude and formula_22
Latitude "ξ", "μ", "χ", "θ"]. The geodetic latitude, or any of the auxiliary latitudes defined on the reference ellipsoid, constitutes with longitude a two-dimensional coordinate system on that ellipsoid. To define the position of an arbitrary point it is necessary to extend such a coordinate system into three dimensions. Three latitudes are used in this way: the geodetic, geocentric and parametric latitudes are used in geodetic coordinates, spherical polar coordinates and ellipsoidal coordinates respectively. At an arbitrary point consider the line which is normal to the reference ellipsoid. The geodetic coordinates are the latitude and longitude of the point on the