Meridians Geography < 1000+ Hot >

: Unlike parallels of latitude, which run sideways around the Earth, meridians run "up and down".

Since Earth is a sphere, there is no natural "starting point" for east and west (unlike the Equator, which is naturally defined by the Earth's rotation). Therefore, a specific meridian had to be chosen arbitrarily as the zero-degree reference line. meridians geography

Meridians provide the "X" to latitude's "Y." By knowing your longitude (which meridian you are on) and your latitude (which parallel you are on), you can find any specific point on Earth. This coordinate system is the foundation for everything from 18th-century maritime charts to the GPS on your smartphone. 2. Keeping Time : Unlike parallels of latitude, which run sideways

Meridians allow us to synchronize global finance, internet traffic, and flight schedules. When it is 9:00 AM in London (on the Prime Meridian), we know exactly what time it is in Tokyo or New York based on their longitudinal distance from the 0° line. Meridians provide the "X" to latitude's "Y