What are Parallels of Latitude and Meridians of Longitude

Answer: Parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude are the lines or circles crossing one another and are usually measured in degrees. The main application of these both is to find the location and time of the particular place.

Parallel of Latitude

The parallels of latitudes are known to be the parallel circles that run from the equator to the poles of the planet. When talking about the measurement, the parallels of latitudes are measured in degrees. The equator of the globe represents zero degrees latitude. The distance of the latitude from the equator to one of the poles is around one-fourth of a circle around the planet. When measuring the same, 1/4th of 360 degrees is computed as 90 degrees. Therefore, the North Pole is marked by 90 degrees towards the north latitude, and the South Pole is marked by the 90 degrees towards the south latitude.

Vital Parallels of Latitudes of the Earth

• The Tropic of cancer in the Northern Hemisphere is measured at around 23½ degrees N.
• The Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere is measured at around 23½ degrees S.
• Arctic Circle is known to be at 66½ degrees north of the equator.
• Antarctic Circle is known to be at 66½ degrees south of the equator.

Meridians of Longitude

Meridians of longitude are defined as the lines of reference that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. Prime Meridian is the meridian that is known to be passing through Greenwich, the place where the British Royal Observatory is located. The value of the Prime Meridian is computed as 0-degree longitude and from it, 180 degrees eastward and 180 degrees westward are counted. The earth is divided into two equal halves by the Prime Meridian and 180 degrees meridian. The two halves are known as the eastern hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere.