The Lines Of Longitude: Some Interesting Facts

Earth is divided into various sections in society. In some places we have water and in some places we have land. But the locations and positions of places on land and water are difficult to determine. The shape of our planet is partway ellipsoid which makes certain unequal regions on the Planet. It is due to the shape of our planet which makes it difficult to locate a point on the earth. This is where the use of latitude and longitude comes into being. Latitudes, Longitudes and time zones are very substantial geographical parameters that play a major role in the estimation of distances on the planet.

What is latitude and longitude?

Latitudes

Latitude pertains to the horizontal imaginary lines running from east to west, which represents the distance of points, north and south of the equator. Also known by the name parallels, it is expressed through an angle that ranges from about 0° to 90°, an angle formed between poles and equator. 

When used with the longitude, the coordinates formed help us point out the exact locations on the globe. Apart from the degrees (°), the latitudes can also be assessed and calculated in minutes and seconds, which moves to either north or the south of the equator.  

The Equator is an imaginary latitude formed on the earth which divides our globe into two equal parts where the north one is known as the Northern Hemisphere and the south one is known as the Southern Hemisphere. All the latitudes are parallel to the equator and every other latitude, forming a 90° angle between the poles and equator. 

Longitudes 

Longitude is a vertical imaginary line that moves from north to south direction and is present on the east-west side of the Prime Meridian, used to calculate distance between two points. In this case, the angle formed between various longitudinal lines is between 0 degree longitude to 180 degree longitude (either positive or negative). 

Also known as meridians, these lines along with the latitudes can form coordinates and pinpoint numerous whereabouts on the surface of the Earth. Usually, the vertical imaginary line is expressed in degrees where we use eastward or westward, in addition to minutes and seconds used in the case of the latitudes. 

The meridians move from north to south pole. As the longitude moves towards the poles, the distance between the nearby longitude decreases and they all can meet at the poles. The length of the different latitudes is not the same, but in this case, various longitudes have the same length. 

Interestingly, we have the Greenwich Mean Time Meridian (GMT) that is contemplated as the reference one to all the other longitudes. Thus, due to this, the earth gets divided into two halves, where one is the Eastern Hemisphere and the other one is known as the Western Hemisphere. 

Interesting facts about Longitude

Definition

Longitude is a vertical imaginary line that moves from north to south and is present on the east-west side of the Prime Meridian, used to calculate distance between two points.

Denoted by Greek Letters 

For the case of longitudes, they are represented by a Greek Letter, known as a ‘lambda’. 

Running Direction

Longitudes are imaginary lines that run from north to south. 

Not parallel to each other 

The horizontal imaginary lines are not parallel to each other and they intersect each other at the north and south poles. Coordinates are formed with the intersection of the imaginary lines of longitude and latitude.

Other names 

In the case of longitudes, the meridians are present in the east-west direction of the Prime Meridian. 

The central line of Reference

Longitudes use prime meridians as their reference points. 

Ranges of imaginary lines

The angle formed between various longitudinal lines is between 0 degree longitude to 180 degree longitude (either positive or negative). 

Value of the lines 

The longitudinal lines increase as one moves in the eastward direction from the Greenwich Meridian. 

Conclusion

In addition, the above-mentioned facts about the latitudes and longitude definition and further characteristics help in categorising temperature zones and classifying time zones at the global level respectively. Both of these are interdependent upon each other, this is because one cannot pinpoint places on the map without each other. These geographical coordinates help in easily determining the position of the locations on the globe. Both latitudes and Longitudes are based on various distinctive facts that play a major role in the estimation of distance and time