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Question
Why is the IDL considered with respect to the 180° meridian only?
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Solution
- Our 24-hour day starts at 12 midnight because of the earth’s rotation, the midnight occurs at different times at different places.
- As the earth is spherical in shape, every place has a place to its east.
- So, it was necessary to determine at what location to the east does the day start on earth?
- Hence, representatives of many nations got together under the leadership of an American professor, Davidson, in the year 1884 and decided the international date line.
- The line was drawn opposite to the Greenwich Prime Meridian i.e. with reference to the 180° Meridian.
- Therefore, IDL is considered with respect to the 180° meridian.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
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