An azimuth is an angle measured in a clockwise direction from a predetermined base line. Before attempting to determine or follow an azimuth in the field, you must have a clear understanding of each part of this definition.

Baseline

Direction

Angle

When we say that an azimuth is an angle measured in a clockwise direction from a predetermined base line, we mean that it is a certain number of degrees measured in a clockwise direction from a predetermined reference point or "base line". The reference point or "base line" that we are referring to is north. There are three (3) base lines that we use in determining azimuths: 1) True North; 2) Magnetic North; and 3) Grid North.

When we say that an azimuth is an angle measured in a clockwise direction, we mean that each azimuth has a starting point and from there progresses in a clockwise direction around the circle. All azimuths between "0" degrees and "180" degrees will be on the right side of the circle, and all azimuths between "180" degrees and "360" degrees will be on the left side of the circle.

An azimuth is an angle which means that it is part of a circle. A circle is divided into 360 equal degrees, each degree representing a single "slice of the pie". Additionally, each degree can be broken down into "60 minute" intervals. Just as there are 60 minutes in an hour, there are also 60 minutes (60') in each degree. Thus, an azimuth can be expressed as 5 degrees, 15 minutes.