An arc distance from a prime meridian measured in degrees

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An arc distance from a prime meridian measured in degrees

Longitude is the angular distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees. The prime meridian (0°) serves as the reference line, and longitudes describe how far around the globe you are from that line, up to 180° east or west. This directly matches the idea of an arc distance from the prime meridian in degrees. Latitude, by contrast, measures distance north or south of the equator, not from the prime meridian. A meridian refers to the north–south line itself (a longitude line), and altitude is vertical elevation above sea level, which isn’t about angular distance on the globe.

Longitude is the angular distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees. The prime meridian (0°) serves as the reference line, and longitudes describe how far around the globe you are from that line, up to 180° east or west. This directly matches the idea of an arc distance from the prime meridian in degrees. Latitude, by contrast, measures distance north or south of the equator, not from the prime meridian. A meridian refers to the north–south line itself (a longitude line), and altitude is vertical elevation above sea level, which isn’t about angular distance on the globe.

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