Meridians are lines on a sphere (or other geometric solid) all of which go through the poles.
Degrees are a unit of measurement of angles and temperature and concentration, and some other things. As a unit for measuring angles, meridians are measured in degrees. There are 360 degrees in a complete circle.
A globe can have 36 meridians drawn at 10-degree intervals. This is because meridians are lines of longitude that extend from the North Pole to the South Pole, and they are measured from 0 degrees (the Prime Meridian) to 360 degrees. Dividing the 360 degrees by 10 degrees gives 36 meridians.
Two meridians can form a great circle when they are 180 degrees apart, as they represent opposite points on the Earth's surface. For example, the Prime Meridian at 0 degrees and the Antimeridian at 180 degrees are such meridians. Any two meridians that are 180 degrees apart will create a great circle, which is the largest circle that can be drawn on the surface of a sphere.
Meridians are lines of longitude that run north-south and connect the North Pole to the South Pole. There are 360 meridians that divide the Earth into 360 degrees of longitude, with the prime meridian at 0 degrees.
The meridians meet at 90 degrees South latitude -- the South Pole.
degrees
360
Degrees of Longitude or Meridians.
The Prime Meridian is numbered zero degrees. Meridians, or lines of longitude, are numbered with increasing numbers of degrees both east and west of the Prime Meridian. On the opposite side of the world from the Prime Meridian is 90 degrees, which is also the International Date Line.
Prime Meridians.
90 degrees
90 degrees
The Prime or Greenwich meridian. 0 degrees longitude