pituuslinjassa

Pituuslinjassa is a Finnish term that translates to "longitude line" or "meridian" in English. It refers to a line of longitude, which is an imaginary line on the Earth's surface that connects the North Pole and the South Pole. These lines run vertically from pole to pole, intersecting the Equator at right angles.

There are 360 degrees of longitude, with the prime meridian, or pituuslinja 0, passing through Greenwich, London, serving as the reference point. Other pituuslinjat are measured in degrees east or west of the prime meridian. For example, a location might be at 15 degrees east longitude, or 30 degrees west longitude.

Pituuslinjat are crucial for navigation and determining location on Earth. When combined with lines of latitude (leveyslinjat), they form a geographic coordinate system that allows for precise pinpointing of any spot on the globe. Historically, determining accurate longitude at sea was a significant challenge, leading to the development of sophisticated chronometers and astronomical methods. The concept of pituuslinja is fundamental to understanding maps, globes, and global positioning systems.