The Comparison of Two Methods for the Absolute Determination of Latitude

In this paper, the, prime vertical-meridian circle alternate observation method is compared with the traditional meridian circle observation method for absolutely determining the latitude of an observing station from the absoluteness of the determination methods, the error sources of observations and the ways to eliminate the errors. It is suggested that in principle, the latitude values determined by means of the former method are absolute, but those determined by the latter method are not really absolute. The error sources of the former are less than those of the latter, and can be eliminated easily, thereby obtaining much more accurate adopted latitudes.