Azimuth vs. Bearing
Azimuth and bearing are sometimes used interchangeably, but they refer to different concepts and describe different values. An azimuth is the direction of travel shown on a compass, measured from north. A bearing describes an angle or angle difference relative to a reference point, usually a compass direction.
NW | NE | ||
Bearing = 360° - Az. | Bearing = Az. | ||
Bearing = Az.- 180° | Bearing = 180° - Az. | ||
SW | SE |
- An azimuth is an angle between 0° and 360°, measured clockwise from north.
- A bearing is an angle smaller than 90° within a quadrant that is bounded by two cardinal directions.
“South 45°E” and “135°” are therefore the same direction, expressed as bearing and azimuth respectively.
A bearing can be expressed in MIL or degrees, while an azimuth is usually expressed in degrees.