Längengradlage

Längengradlage refers to the measurement of a location's east-west position on the Earth's surface. It is one of the two coordinates used in any geographic coordinate system, the other being latitude. Longitude is measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds, ranging from 0 to 180 degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian. The Prime Meridian, which passes through Greenwich, London, is designated as 0 degrees longitude. Lines of longitude, also known as meridians, converge at the North and South Poles. Traveling east from the Prime Meridian increases the longitude value towards 180 degrees East, while traveling west decreases it towards 180 degrees West. The 180th meridian is often referred to as the International Date Line, though it deviates from a straight line in places to avoid separating landmasses and political entities. Determining longitude historically posed significant challenges, particularly at sea, as it requires precise timekeeping. The development of accurate chronometers in the 18th century was a major breakthrough in navigation. Today, Global Positioning System (GPS) technology provides highly accurate longitude readings. Understanding Längengradlage is fundamental for mapping, navigation, and various scientific disciplines.