Meridian
A line of longitude running from the North Pole to the South Pole, fundamental for geographic coordinate systems.
What does a Meridian represent?
A meridian, which is a component of the geographic coordinate system, is an imaginary line on the surface of the Earth that connects the North and South Poles. These lines, which are often referred to as lines of longitude, are used to calculate distances east or west of the Prime Meridian, which is located in Greenwich, England, at 0° longitude.
When combined with latitude parallels, meridians are essential for precisely locating oneself on the planet. All meridians converge at the poles, and each meridian crosses the equator at a right angle. Since the Earth is roughly divided into 24 time zones based on these longitudinal divisions, meridians are crucial for mapping, navigation, and time zone definition.
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The imaginary line that passes through Greenwich, London, and connects the North and South Poles at 0° longitude is known as the Prime Meridian. As the reference point for calculating global time zones (also known as Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT) and measuring longitude, it separates the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
Any location on Earth may be found using the imaginary lines known as longitude and latitude. Longitude lines are vertical and indicate distance east or west of the Prime Meridian, whereas latitude lines are horizontal and indicate distance north or south of the Equator. When combined, they provide exact coordinates for any location on Earth.
The International Date Line (IDL) is a hypothetical line that primarily runs over the 180° longitude in the Pacific Ocean, connecting the North and South Poles. It acts as the line separating one calendar day from the next. A day is added when crossing it from east to west, and a day is subtracted when crossing it from west to east. The line zigzags around several areas to prevent dividing nations and island groups.
The imaginary lines known as Earth's meridian lines divide the planet into equal longitude pieces and extend from the North Pole to the South Pole. Other meridians are measured east or west from the reference point, which is the prime meridian at 0° longitude, up to 180°. Geographic information systems (GIS) rely on these lines for mapping, timekeeping, and worldwide navigation.