Is the international dateline a parallel or a meridian?
2007-02-27 08:43:03 · 5 answers · asked by a_happy_bunny 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
It's a meridian. Actually, it's a crooked meridian, politically mangled to pass East and West of various islands and peninsulas. But all longitudinal (N-S) lines are meridians. Latitude (E-W) lines are called parallels because they are parallel to each other. They never intersect. Longitudes intersect at the poles.
2007-02-27 08:47:34 · answer #1 · answered by skepsis 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A meridian runs from the south pole to the north pole. Therefore the international date line is a meridian. Meridians also give you your position on the globe in regards to east and west. Meridians are closest together at the poles and farthest apart at the equator.
Parallels circle the earth parallel to each other. Parallels give you your position north and south of the equator.
2007-02-27 08:59:30 · answer #2 · answered by Lost in PA 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Other answers have pointed out that the dateline is politically determined. I just want to add that it's not some U.N. body or international group. Each country can decide on their own where the dateline goes around or through it.
2007-02-27 10:22:17 · answer #3 · answered by morningfoxnorth 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a meridian or longitude measurement. It is skewed by politics so that it does not pass through a country.
2007-02-27 08:56:31 · answer #4 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a skewed (bent) meridian, going from pole to pole.
2007-02-27 08:53:11 · answer #5 · answered by Jerry P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋