GREENWICH MERIDIAN Meaning and
Definition
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The Greenwich Meridian, also known as the Prime Meridian or the International Meridian, is an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole, passing through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It serves as the zero degree line of longitude and is used as the reference point for measuring longitude and determining time zones.
The establishment of the Greenwich Meridian was influenced by the need for a global standard for navigation and timekeeping. In 1884, an international conference held in Washington, D.C., decided to adopt the meridian that passed through the Royal Observatory as the Prime Meridian. This decision was based on the observatory's historical significance and the accurate astronomical measurements made there.
The Greenwich Meridian divides the Earth's surface into the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. The reference point for measuring longitude is set at 0°, with locations to the west being assigned negative values and locations to the east being assigned positive values, ranging from -180° to 180°.
The establishment of the Greenwich Meridian as the zero point for longitude has facilitated global coordination of time zones. Time zones are calculated by dividing the Earth into 24 equal sections, each spanning 15 degrees of longitude. The meridian passing through Greenwich is used as the starting point for the measurement of time zones, with other zones positioned to the east or west, differing by one hour for each 15-degree increment.
In summary, the Greenwich Meridian is an imaginary line passing through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, serving as the zero degree line of longitude and the reference point for measuring time zones around the world.
Common Misspellings for GREENWICH MERIDIAN
- freenwich meridian
- vreenwich meridian
- breenwich meridian
- hreenwich meridian
- yreenwich meridian
- treenwich meridian
- geeenwich meridian
- gdeenwich meridian
- gfeenwich meridian
- gteenwich meridian
- g5eenwich meridian
- g4eenwich meridian
- grwenwich meridian
- grsenwich meridian
- grdenwich meridian
- grrenwich meridian
- gr4enwich meridian
- gr3enwich meridian
- grewnwich meridian
- gresnwich meridian
Etymology of GREENWICH MERIDIAN
The word "Greenwich Meridian" has its etymology rooted in the geographical location and naming conventions.
"Greenwich" refers to the area in Southeast London, England, which is home to the Royal Observatory. The observatory was established by King Charles II in 1675 and was an important site for astronomical observations. It became internationally recognized as the prime meridian, used as the baseline for measuring longitudes and determining time zones.
"Meridian" comes from the Latin word "meridianus", meaning "of midday" or "midday point". In astronomy and geography, a meridian is an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole, passing through both geographic poles and all points with the same longitude. The prime meridian, designated as 0 degrees longitude, passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
