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They are numbered in degrees and fractions of degrees. Parallels also known as latitudes are measured north and south of the equator up to a maximum of 90 degrees north or south. Meridians or longitudes are measured east and west from the prime meridian which passes through Greenwich in London, up to 180 degrees.
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BlakeParallels are numbered north or south from the equator (starting at 0 degrees) towards the poles, with the equator at 0 degrees. Meridians are numbered east or west from the Prime Meridian (located at 0 degrees) towards the International Date Line, with the Prime Meridian at 0 degrees.
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What are the major differences between parallels and meridians?
Parallels are lines of latitude that run east-west around the globe, while meridians are lines of longitude that run north-south. Parallels are always equidistant from each other, while meridians converge at the poles. Parallels help locate positions north or south of the equator, while meridians help locate positions east or west of the Prime Meridian.
How are meridians numbered?
The Prime Meridian is numbered zero degrees. Meridians, or lines of longitude, are numbered with increasing numbers of degrees both east and west of the Prime Meridian. On the opposite side of the world from the Prime Meridian is 90 degrees, which is also the International Date Line.
A basic geography questions - Do all of the parallels and the meridians cross each other at right angles on both the globe and Mercator?
On a globe, parallels and meridians do not intersect at right angles; only the equator and the prime meridian intersect perpendicular to each other. On a Mercator projection map, the meridians appear as straight lines converging at the poles, while the parallels are equally spaced horizontally, giving the illusion that they intersect at right angles, when in reality that is not the case.
How are the paralles and meridians numbered?
Parallels are numbered based on their angular distance north or south of the Equator, with the Equator itself as 0 degrees. Meridians are numbered based on their angular distance east or west of the Prime Meridian (located in Greenwich, England), with the Prime Meridian itself as 0 degrees.
What is the difference between latitude and parallels longitude and meridians?
Latitude refers to the angular distance of a location north or south of the equator, measured in degrees. Parallels are lines of latitude that run parallel to the equator. Longitude refers to the angular distance of a location east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured in degrees. Meridians are lines of longitude that converge at the poles.
