| − | '''Lines of longitude''' or '''meridians''' are imaginary lines that run north and south across the earth. They are used to measure east-west location, relative to a "prime meridian" which by definition is 0°. While in the past many meridians have been used, since 1884 the Greenwich Meridian has become the universal standard.<ref>Wile, Dr. Jay L. ''Exploring Creation With Physical Science''. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1999, 2000</ref> | + | '''Lines of longitude''' or '''meridians''' are imaginary lines that run north and south across the earth. They are used to measure east–west location, relative to a "prime meridian" which by definition is 0°. While in the past many meridians have been used, since 1884 the Greenwich Meridian has become the universal standard.<ref>Wile, Dr. Jay L. ''Exploring Creation With Physical Science''. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1999, 2000</ref> |
| | Longitude is an ''angular'' measurement and is given in degrees, minutes, and seconds, represented by the symbols °, ', and " respectively. The longitude of the NOAA weather station in New Brunswick, New Jersey, for example, is 74°26'W;<ref>[http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwDI~StnSrch~StnID~20018874 NCDC / Climate-Radar Data Inventories]</ref> that is to say, seventy-four degrees, twenty-six minutes West of the Greenwich meridian. | | Longitude is an ''angular'' measurement and is given in degrees, minutes, and seconds, represented by the symbols °, ', and " respectively. The longitude of the NOAA weather station in New Brunswick, New Jersey, for example, is 74°26'W;<ref>[http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwDI~StnSrch~StnID~20018874 NCDC / Climate-Radar Data Inventories]</ref> that is to say, seventy-four degrees, twenty-six minutes West of the Greenwich meridian. |