Which statement correctly describes the Prime Meridian?

Which statement correctly describes the Prime Meridian?

• A. The Meridian at 180 Degrees Longitude
• B. The Lower Branch of the Meridian That Passes Through Greenwich
• C. The Line of Longitude That Coincides With the Equator
• D. The Upper Branch of the Meridian That Passes Through Greenwich, England

Answer: (D)

The Prime Meridian is the 0° longitude line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole and passes through Greenwich, England. It serves as the starting reference for measuring longitude east or west around the globe. On many charts, that same line is shown with an northern (upper) portion and a southern (lower) portion; calling it the upper branch through Greenwich simply describes the part of the line that lies in the northern hemisphere while the rest continues south. The opposite long line at 180° is the anti-meridian, not the Prime Meridian. The equator is a latitude line, not a longitude line, so a longitude that coincides with it isn’t correct. And the Prime Meridian isn’t defined by a distinct “lower branch.”

The Prime Meridian is the 0° longitude line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole and passes through Greenwich, England. It serves as the starting reference for measuring longitude east or west around the globe. On many charts, that same line is shown with an northern (upper) portion and a southern (lower) portion; calling it the upper branch through Greenwich simply describes the part of the line that lies in the northern hemisphere while the rest continues south. The opposite long line at 180° is the anti-meridian, not the Prime Meridian. The equator is a latitude line, not a longitude line, so a longitude that coincides with it isn’t correct. And the Prime Meridian isn’t defined by a distinct “lower branch.”