Meridian Longitude ((full)) -

While latitude measures distance north or south of the Equator, longitude measures distance east or west of a reference line. This system allows any location on Earth to be pinpointed with exact coordinates.

Today, longitude is calculated electronically. broadcast precise time signals from atomic clocks. A GPS receiver calculates its distance from multiple satellites and solves for its longitude, latitude, and altitude in real time to within meters or centimeters. meridian longitude

If a meridian is the "street" on a map, longitude is the "street number." A meridian is the physical line connecting the poles; longitude is the label assigned to that line to distinguish it from others. While latitude measures distance north or south of

Longitude is measured in , minutes (') , and seconds (" ): broadcast precise time signals from atomic clocks

Because longitude measures distance East or West, a "Zero Point" is required. Historically, this was a source of immense confusion and political jockeying.