Ellipsoidal parameters

Definition
— In mathematics, an ellipse is a curve on a plane surrounding
two focal points such that a straight line drawn from one of
the focal points to any point on the curve and then back to
the other focal point has the same length for every point on
the curve
— A simple way to illustrate the ellipse is to picture a piece of string with
each end fastened to fixed points called focus points or foci .The string
length is arbitrarily set to 2a. If a pencil is used to pull the string tight and
is then moved around the foci, the resulting shape will be an ellipse. The
length of string remains constant at 2a, but the distance(S1and S2) from
the pencil to each focus will change at each point. The foci are located at
F1and F2, and A and B are two arbitrary points on the ellipse. All the
points on the closed curve defined by the ellipse are represented by the
set of x and y points, P(x,y).
— The foci are always located
on the major axis
Trammel of Archimedes parallelogram method

Hypotrochoid
Eccentricity
— One way to specify the shape of an ellipse is given by the
eccentricity, e.
— It can be thought of as a measure of how much the conic
section deviates from being circular.
— The ellipse eccentricity, e, can vary between 0 and 1.
Ellipse flatness
— Ellipse shape is also expressed by the flatness, f. In geodesy
the shape of the ellipsoid (ellipsoid of rotation) that
represents earth models is usually specified by the flatness.
The flatness is computed as:
4. Second eccentricity and second
flatness
— The eccentricity and flatness, e and f, are both defined by a
ratio with the semi major axis. These are also referred to the
first eccentricity and the first flatness. Analogous quantities
defined as the ratio to the semi minor axis are referred to as
the second eccentricity, e’, and the second flatness, f’
Specifying an ellipse
— The shape and size of an ellipse can be specified by any pair
combination of a,b, e, e’, f or f ’. Different applications use
different sets. The common combinations are:
— semi major and semi minor axes (a, b),
— semi major and eccentricity (a, e),
— semi major and flatness (a, f).
 Example
— Ellipsoid [CLARKE 1866]
— Semi-Major Axis (Equatorial Radius) [6378206.4]
— Semi-Minor Axis (Polar Radius) [6356583.8]
— Flattening [0.0033900753039287908]
— Flattening Inverse [294.9786982138982]
— First Eccentricity [0.0822718542230039]
— First Eccentricity Squared [0.006768657997291184]
— Second Eccentricity [0.0825517107388772]
— Second Eccentricity Squared [0.006814784945915172]
Fitting the ellipsoid to geoid
Normal Section
— A Normal Section through the point P is the section formed
on the ellipsoid by any plane that contains the Normal
at P.
— this is NOT a Great Circle
Prime Vertical Section
— The Prime Vertical at point P is the section defined by a plane
that is perpendicular to the Meridian section and contains the
normal to the Ellipsoid at P
Radius of Curvature
Normal Section from P1 to P2
— This is defined as the Normal Section through P1 that also
contains the point P2
True Azimuth from P1 to P2
— This is defined as the angle between the meridian plane
containing P1 and the normal section from P1 to P2,
measured clockwise from North
TYPES OF LATITUDE
— geodetic (φ)
— geocentric (ψ)
— reduced (β)
— Astronomical Latitude (ɸ)

ellipsoid

sphere
Types
— Geodetic latitude: is the angle between the normal and the equatorial
plane is the geodetic latitude and is denoted by the Greek letter φ
(phi). Geodetic latitude is also known as geographic latitude.
— Geocentric latitude: From the same point M a line can be drawn to
the centre of the ellipse, point O in the Figure. The angle between the
line MO and the equatorial plane is the geocentric latitude and is generally
designated by the Greek letter Ψ (psi).
— Reduced Latitude : Through the same point M assume a point is
projected in a direction parallel to the polar axis until it intersects a
circle of radius a at point M'. The angle between the radius M'O and the
equatorial plane is known as the reduced latitude or eccentric angle, and is
generally designated by the Greek letter β (beta).
— Astronomical latitude: is the angle formed by the direction of
gravity (the plumb line) and the equatorial plane. The astronomical
latitude is often designated by the capital Greek letter ɸ (PHI).
Relationship among latitudes