How do geographers determine absolute location?

Geographers determine absolute location using a reference system of coordinates, which typically includes latitude and longitude. This system allows for precise identification of any point on Earth's surface. Latitude lines run parallel to the equator and provide information about how far north or south a location is, while longitude lines run from the North to South Pole and indicate how far east or west a location is. By combining these coordinates, geographers can provide an exact position, making absolute location distinct from relative location, which is based on a place's situation or relationships to other locations.

Regional characteristics, historical references, and local surveys do not provide the precise and universal framework necessary for defining absolute locations. Regional characteristics focus on the broader attributes of an area rather than specific points, historical references can vary widely and are not reliable for pinpointing locations, and local surveys, while useful for gathering data about particular areas, do not offer the standardized coordinates that define absolute location globally.