Because the Sun's light moves across the Earth at a rate of 15° longitude per hour, people divided the Earth into 24 roughly equal sections of about 15° each, and assigned a one-hour time difference to each successive zone.

How does longitude affect time?

Because of the earth's rotation, there is a close connection between longitude and time. Local time (for example from the position of the sun) varies with longitude, a difference of 15° longitude corresponding to a one-hour difference in local time.

How does latitude affect sunrise time?

Affects the Direction of Sunrise and Sunset. The exact maximum amplitude depends on your latitude. ... The farther north you go in the northern hemisphere or the farther south you go in the southern hemisphere, the greater is the sun's maximum amplitude.