How are time zones determined?

Time zones are determined by dividing the world into sections based on lines of longitude. The Earth is divided into 360 degrees of longitude, and each degree corresponds to a specific time offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

The reason for this is that as the Earth rotates, different parts of the planet receive sunlight at different times, creating the need for time zones that correspond to the position of the sun in the sky. Each time zone generally represents one hour of time difference based on the Earth's rotation, with the convention that every 15 degrees of longitude corresponds to one hour later as you move eastward from the prime meridian.

This system allows for standardization of time across various regions and helps in coordinating activities, travel, and communication globally. While latitude determines climate and geography, it does not affect the determination of time zones as directly as lines of longitude do.