Final answer:
The statement is false; each UTM zone covers 6 degrees of longitude, not latitude. The Earth is divided into 360 degrees using latitude and longitude, allowing for precise location identification via the graticule.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that each UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) zone covers 6 degrees of latitude is false. Instead, each UTM zone covers 6 degrees of longitude. It is important to understand that the Earth is divided into 360 degrees, as taught in geometry, using lines of latitude and longitude that form a grid pattern known as the graticule. This allows geographers to pinpoint any location on Earth with precise coordinates.
UTM zones are laid out from west to east starting at 180 degrees longitude. There are a total of 60 UTM zones, each 6 degrees wide in longitude, which span the globe from the westernmost point of 180 degrees west longitude to the easternmost point of 180 degrees east longitude. This means that the zones cover from 6 degrees West to 6 degrees East, 12 degrees West to 12 degrees East, and so on. These zones are set up to provide a consistent method for mapping and location purposes, improving accuracy in various fields such as mapping, navigation, and geospatial analysis.