Here's how it works:
* Satellites: A network of at least 24 satellites constantly orbit the Earth, transmitting radio signals.
* Receiver: A GPS receiver on Earth picks up these signals.
* Triangulation: By calculating the time it takes for the signals to reach the receiver from multiple satellites, the receiver can determine its distance from each satellite. This creates a sphere around each satellite, with the receiver being at the point where all the spheres intersect.
* Coordinates: This intersection point gives the receiver's precise latitude, longitude, and elevation (altitude) on Earth.
Other satellite navigation systems exist, such as:
* GLONASS (Russia): Provides similar functionality to GPS.
* Galileo (Europe): Another global navigation satellite system.
* BeiDou (China): China's navigation satellite system.
These systems can be used independently or combined to provide even more accurate positioning.
Note: The term "elevation" refers to height above sea level, which is a specific reference point.
