Hi, How Can We Help You?
  • Address: 1251 Lake Forest Drive New York
  • Email Address: assignmenthelpcentral@gmail.com

Tag Archives: What is the difference between a meridian (or longitude) and a parallel (or latitude)?

Assignment Help Central   →  Blog Large Image   →  What is the difference between a meridian (or longitude) and a parallel (or latitude)?
September 17, 2025
September 17, 2025

Mapping Technologies

Author By Academic Wizard Categories Blog

Mapping Technologies

The topic of this Homework is latitude and longitude, map projections, map scales, and modern mapping technologies. Address the following:

  • What is the difference between a meridian (or longitude) and a parallel (or latitude)? Indicate the latitude and longitude of 5 of the following locations (your choice):
    • The Statue of Liberty
    • Mount Rushmore
    • The Eiffel Tower
    • The Taj Mahal
    • The Sydney Opera House
    • Mount Fuji
    • Stonehenge
  • List and describe the four types of distortions that can result from map projections.
  • List and describe the three ways to indicate scale on a map.
  • What are GIS, GPS, and Remote Sensing and how do these technologies contribute to more accurate and timely geographic information on Earth?
  • How do you use these technologies (if any) in your everyday life?

Mapping Technologies

Mapping Technologies

  • What is the difference between a meridian (or longitude) and a parallel (or latitude)?,

  • Indicate the latitude and longitude of 5 of the following locations (your choice).,

  • List and describe the four types of distortions that can result from map projections.,

  • List and describe the three ways to indicate scale on a map.,

  • What are GIS, GPS, and Remote Sensing and how do these technologies contribute to more accurate and timely geographic information on Earth?,

  • How do you use these technologies (if any) in your everyday life?

Comprehensive General Answers

1. Difference between meridian (longitude) and parallel (latitude)

  • Meridians (longitude): Imaginary lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole, measured east or west of the Prime Meridian (0°) in Greenwich, England. Longitude values range from 0° to 180° east or west.

  • Parallels (latitude): Imaginary lines that circle the globe horizontally, parallel to the equator. They are measured north or south of the equator (0°), ranging from 0° to 90° north or south.

2. Latitude and longitude of five landmarks

  • Statue of Liberty, USA: 40.6892° N, 74.0445° W

  • Mount Rushmore, USA: 43.8791° N, 103.4591° W

  • Eiffel Tower, France: 48.8584° N, 2.2945° E

  • Taj Mahal, India: 27.1751° N, 78.0421° E

  • Sydney Opera House, Australia: 33.8568° S, 151.2153° E

3. Four types of distortions in map projections

When projecting the 3D Earth onto a 2D map, distortions occur in:

  1. Shape: The true form of areas may be stretched or compressed.

  2. Area (Size): The relative size of regions may be enlarged or reduced (e.g., Greenland appears larger than Africa on a Mercator projection).

  3. Distance: The measured distance between two points may not be accurate.

  4. Direction: The compass bearing from one place to another can be distorted.

4. Three ways to indicate scale on a map

  1. Graphic (bar) scale: A line or bar divided into units of distance (e.g., kilometers or miles) that can be measured with a ruler.

  2. Verbal scale: A written statement such as “1 inch equals 1 mile.”

  3. Representative fraction (RF): A ratio (e.g., 1:100,000) where one unit on the map equals a proportional number of units on the ground.