An online tool that computes the amount of Earth’s surface that drops away from a perfectly horizontal line of sight over a given distance. For instance, determining how much a distant object is obscured by the planet’s round shape necessitates such a calculation. The result of this computation indicates the vertical distance between the line of sight and the surface at the specified distance.
Understanding this phenomenon is essential for a variety of applications, including surveying, construction of long-distance infrastructure (like pipelines or bridges), and even astrophotography, where precise aiming is crucial. Historically, the challenge of accounting for the Earth’s shape in measurements spurred the development of increasingly sophisticated surveying techniques and tools. It allows one to correct for distortions and ensure accurate alignment over long distances.