<P> The Earth is nearly spherical ( see Earth radius ) , so great - circle distance formulas give the distance between points on the surface of the Earth correct to within about 0.5 % . ( See Arc length § Arcs of great circles on the Earth . ) </P>
<P> The Earth is nearly spherical ( see Earth radius ) , so great - circle distance formulas give the distance between points on the surface of the Earth correct to within about 0.5 % . ( See Arc length § Arcs of great circles on the Earth . ) </P>
the shortest distance between two points on the earth 's surface is
the shortest distance between two points on the earth 's surface is
great - circle distance
great - circle distance