Which of the following terms best describes the distance from the equator?

The term that best describes the distance from the equator is latitude. Latitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is measured in degrees, with the equator defined as 0 degrees latitude. As one moves away from the equator toward the poles, the latitude increases up to 90 degrees north or south. Latitude is essential for navigation, mapping, and understanding climate zones, as it directly affects temperature and weather patterns.

Longitude, on the other hand, measures the east-west position and is perpendicular to latitude, making it irrelevant when specifically discussing distance from the equator. Altitude refers to the height of an object above a reference point, usually the Earth's surface, while elevation is often used interchangeably with altitude, though it typically refers to the height of the terrain itself. None of these terms address the concept of distance from the equator as effectively as latitude does.