Hosszszélesség

Hosszszélesség, a Hungarian term, translates to "longitude" in English. It is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. Longitude is an angular measurement, typically expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds, ranging from 0° to 180° east or west of a reference line.

The reference line for longitude is the Prime Meridian, which passes through Greenwich, London, England. Meridians are imaginary lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole, connecting points of equal east-west distance from the Prime Meridian. The Earth is divided into 360 degrees of longitude, with 180 degrees east and 180 degrees west.

Points on the Prime Meridian have a longitude of 0°. As you move east from the Prime Meridian, the longitude increases up to 180° East. Similarly, moving west from the Prime Meridian, the longitude increases up to 180° West. The 180° meridian, known as the International Date Line, is roughly opposite the Prime Meridian and marks the place where the calendar day changes.

Longitude is often used in conjunction with latitude, which specifies a point's north-south position, to uniquely identify any location on Earth. Together, latitude and longitude form a system of geographic coordinates that are essential for navigation, cartography, and many other scientific and technological applications. Understanding hosszszélesség is fundamental to comprehending global positioning and mapping.