Question

What considerations have been made while deciding the IDL?

Answer 1

The crossing of the 180-degree prime meridian can result in the change of time zone. Thus some precautions have to be taken to avoid the confusions in the time zones. Thus the date and time may have to be changed to incorporate this. This has to be made by considering the Greenwich 180 degree prime meridian. Two precautions have to be considered while doing this-

• The direction of travel - The sun travels from east to west and the earth rotates from west to east. Thus the countries in the west, 12.00 at midnight is the end of the day and the countries of the east, it is the start of the day. This has to be considered.
• The Current day and date - When we travelling across the meridian, the day and the date changes. While travelling from east to west, one day has to add to the day of commencing the journey. But while travelling from west to east, the same day is considered upon arrival.