As with latitude, longitude is measured as an angular distance. With Latitude, the angular distance is measured from the equator. This is a natural place to begin. However, with longitude there is no natural beginning point. One of these lines must be designated as a prime meridian, or as the 0 ° mark, but which one? For many years, each country had its own prime meridian. France used a meridian passing through Paris, while England used a meridian passing through Greenwich, England. Either one worked just as well, as long as you were only communicating with people from the same country. But what happens as technologies improved, and travelers begin interacting with people from many different lands? If each country is using a different prime meridian to mark 0 ° longitude, than it would be impossible to give someone from another country a location, and have them be able to accurately find it.
Over time, more and more travelers began to recognize the meridian passing through Greenwich, England as the Prime Meridian. In 1884 a group of scientists, navigators, and businessmen made Greenwich, England the official worldwide Prime Meridian.
The further away from the Prime Meridian that one travels the higher their longitude becomes, until they reach 180 ° longitude. If an individual is in the Eastern Hemisphere, their longitude is measured in degrees East. If they are in the Western Hemisphere their longitude is measured in degrees West
No comments:
Post a Comment