It's also interesting because the radius of curvature is smaller, meaning the distance to the horizon is shorter north south, and a lot of these views are north south. So the increase in mountain height more than overcomes the other effect!
replyAre we saying line of sights are not symmetric? Why not?
replyThe earth is an oblate spheroid to an approximation. It's not that they're not symmetric, but at the equator the north south axis has higher rates of curvature than anywhere else (but the east west has somewhat lower rates because of the larger circumference due to the bulge).
replySo that large lines of sight are near the equator on a north south axis (or symmetrically south north) is crazy because the high rates of curvature in that direction at those latitudes should give the shortest distance to the horizon on earth, making those lines of sight even that much more impressive!
Woah, I've been thinking about this whole project for so long, but never considered that!
replyWhile Everest (8849m) is the highest point above Sea Level, Chimborazo (6267m) in Ecuador is further from the centre of the Earth (about 2000 metres further), due to the equatorial bulge. It's very measurable.
replyWell that's not what the claim and clarification was about. The question was: can a mountain rise higher in the equator as compared to higher latitudes?
replyIt is not about highest point from centre of Earth. That's is related to equatorial bulge but irrelevant to the discussion.