What do meridians of longitude show

Latitude lines are a numerical way to measure how far north or south of the equator a place is located. The equator is the starting point for measuring latitude--that's why it's marked as 0 degrees latitude. The number of latitude degrees will be larger the further away from the equator the place is located, all the way up to 90 degrees latitude at the poles. Longitude Vertical mapping lines on Earth are lines of longitude, known as "meridians".

One simple way to visualize this might be to think about having hula hoops cut in half, vertically positioned with one end at the North Pole and the other at the South Pole. Visualize hula hoops cut in half, vertically positioned with one end at the North Pole and the other at the South Pole. Each meridian measures one arc degree of longitude.

The distance around the Earth measures degrees. The meridian that runs through Greenwich, England, is internationally accepted as the line of 0 degrees longitude, or prime meridian. The antimeridian is halfway around the world, at degrees. It is the basis for the International Date Line. Half of the world, the Eastern Hemisphere, is measured in degrees east of the prime meridian. The other half, the Western Hemisphere, in degrees west of the prime meridian. Degrees of longitude are divided into 60 minutes.

Each minute of longitude can be further divided into 60 seconds. A degree of longitude is about kilometers 69 miles at its widest. The widest areas of longitude are near the Equator , where the Earth bulges out. Because of the Earth's curvature , the actual distance of a degrees, minutes, and seconds of longitude depends on its distance from the Equator. The greater the distance, the shorter the length between meridians. All meridians meet at the North and South Poles.

Longitude is related to latitude , the measurement of distance north or south of the Equator. Lines of latitude are called parallel s. Maps are often marked with parallels and meridians, creating a grid.

Longitudes are also called Meridians. The Prime Meridian passes through Greenwich, in England. Some Important Longitudes include :. International Date Line Longitude o. Characteristics of Longitudes. Each meridian is half of a great circle. They run in a true north-south direction from. They are spaced farthest apart at the equator but. Meridians help us to determine standard time. Latitudes are also called Parallels.

Longitudes and Latitudes are expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds. Some Important Latitudes:. Equator Latitude 0 o. Tropic of Cancer Latitude Tropic of Capricorn Latitude Arctic Circle Latitude Antarctic Circle Latitude Characteristics of Latitudes:. Aside the equator, all latitudes are small circles. Always parallel to one another. L ongitude is measured by imaginary lines that run around the Earth vertically up and down and meet at the North and South Poles.

These lines are known as meridians. Each meridian measures one arcdegree of longitude. The distance around the Earth measures degrees. All meridians intersect at two places, the North Pole and the South Pole.