Modulus to limit latitude and longitude values
There is a much, much more efficient way to do this than using sin and arcsin. The most expensive operation is a single division. The observation that the required interval is closed is key.
Divide by 360 and take the remainder. This yields a number in the interval
[0, 360)
, which is half-open, as observed.Fold the interval in half. If the remainder is >=180, subtract it from 360. This maps the interval
[180, 360)
to the interval(0, 180]
. The union of this interval with the bottom half is the closed interval[0, 180]
.Subtract 90 from the result. This interval is
[-90, 90]
, as desired.
This is, indeed, the exact same function as arcsin(sin(x))
, but without the expense or any issue with numeric stability.
Using trig functions sin()/cos()
is expensive in time and introduces loss of precision. Much better to use the remainder()
function. Note the result has the same sign as x
and magnitude less than the magnitude of y
, if able.
OP was on the right track! The below solution is easy to adjust per the edge values of -180 and + 180.0.
#include <math.h>
// Reduce to (-180.0, 180.0]
double Limit_Longitude(double longitude_degrees) {
// A good implementation of `fmod()` will introduce _no_ loss of precision.
// -360.0 <= longitude_reduced <=- 360.0
double longitude_reduced = fmod(longitude_degrees, 360.0);
if (longitude_reduced > 180.0) {
longitude_reduced -= 360.0;
} else if (longitude_reduced <= -180.0) {
longitude_reduced += 360.0;
}
return longitude_reduced;
}
Limiting Latitude to [-90 to +90] is trickier as a latitude of +91 degrees is going over the North Pole but switching the longitude +/- 180 degrees. To preserve longitude precision, adjust by 180 toward 0 degrees.
void Limit_Latitude_Longitude(double *latitude_degrees, double *longitude_degrees) {
*latitude_degrees = Limit_Longitude(*latitude_degrees);
int flip = 0;
if (*latitude_degrees > 90.0) {
*latitude_degrees = 180.0 - *latitude_degrees;
flip = 1;
} else if (*latitude_degrees < -90.0) {
*latitude_degrees = -180.0 - *latitude_degrees;
flip = 1;
}
if (flip) {
*longitude_degrees += *longitude_degrees > 0 ? -180.0 : 180.0;
}
*longitude_degrees = Limit_Longitude(*longitude_degrees);
}
Minor: Although the goal is "limit longitudes to (-180.0, 180.0]", I'd expect ranges of [-180.0, 180.0), [-180.0, 180.0] to be more commonly needed.
How about using the sin
and inverse functions?
asin(sin((lat/180.0)*3.14159265)) * (180.0/3.14159265);