What is Earth Curvature?

Earth curvature refers to the natural curvature of the Earth’s surface due to its spherical shape. This curvature affects visibility over long distances and is an important consideration in various fields such as navigation, architecture, and engineering.

Understanding Earth curvature helps explain phenomena like why ships disappear bottom-first as they sail away and why we can’t see infinitely far on a clear day.

How to Use the Earth Curvature Calculator?

1. Distance Input

Enter the distance between the observer and the target in kilometers. This is the straight-line distance along the Earth’s surface.

2. Observer Height

Input the height of the observer above sea level in meters. This could be your eye level if you’re standing on the ground, or it could be higher if you’re on an elevated position.

3. Target Height

Enter the height of the target object above sea level in meters. This could be the height of a building, mountain, or any other object you’re trying to observe.

4. Calculate

Click the “Calculate” button to process your inputs.

• Curvature: This shows how much the Earth curves over the given distance.
• Hidden Height: Indicates how much of the target is obscured by the Earth’s curvature.
• Horizon Distance: The distance to the horizon from the observer’s position.
• Visible Distance: The maximum distance at which the target would be visible.

This calculator assumes ideal conditions and doesn’t account for atmospheric refraction, which can slightly extend visibility. It’s based on a simplified model of the Earth as a perfect sphere, which is accurate enough for most practical purposes.

By using this Earth Curvature Calculator, you can gain insights into how the Earth’s shape affects our view of the horizon and distant objects, helping to visualize the three-dimensional nature of our planet’s surface.