Earth’s surface is curved, whereas maps are flat. To represent a curved surface on a flat map requires the use of some type of projection. There are several commonly used types of projections. The oldest type of projection is a Mercator projection. Mercator projections are still commonly used today. A Mercator projection is made by wrapping a flat piece of paper around a globe at the equator to make a cylinder. The paper touches the globe at the equator, but the distance between the globe and paper increases toward the poles. The features of Earth’s surface are projected outward onto the... Show more Earth’s surface is curved, whereas maps are flat. To represent a curved surface on a flat map requires the use of some type of projection. There are several commonly used types of projections. The oldest type of projection is a Mercator projection. Mercator projections are still commonly used today. A Mercator projection is made by wrapping a flat piece of paper around a globe at the equator to make a cylinder. The paper touches the globe at the equator, but the distance between the globe and paper increases toward the poles. The features of Earth’s surface are projected outward onto the cylinder. When the cylinder is unrolled, the result is a flat Mercator projection. A Mercator projection is most accurate near the equator. Here, the shapes and sizes of features are correct. However, the features get stretched out near the poles. For example, on a Mercator projection Greenland is stretched out to look almost as big the United States. Other types of projections include conic, gnomonic, Robinson, and Winkel Tripel projections. - A conic projection uses a cone rather than a cylinder to project Earth’s curved surface onto a flat map. It best depicts the area where the cone touches the globe. This area depends on the choice of the map maker. - A gnomonic projection projects Earth surface onto a flat map from a single point. The projection is most accurate for features near that point. The poles are often mapped this way. - A Robinson projection creates an elliptical rather than rectangular map. Lines of latitude are represented by straight lines, whereas lines of longitude are represented by curved lines. This projection has less distortion near the poles than a Mercator project. - A Winkel Tripel projection uses mathematical formulas to create a flat map of Earth’s curved surface. This type of projection is distorted at the edges. The National Geographic Society uses Winkel Tripel projections. Show less
Earth’s surface is curved, whereas maps are flat. To represent a curved surface on a flat map requires the use of some type of projection. There are several commonly used types of projections. The oldest type of projection is a Mercator projection. Mercator projections are still commonly used today. A Mercator projection is made by wrapping a flat piece of paper around a globe at the equator to make a cylinder. The paper touches the globe at the equator, but the distance between the globe and paper increases toward the poles. The features of Earth’s surface are projected outward onto the cylinder. When the cylinder is unrolled, the result is a flat Mercator projection. A Mercator projection is most accurate near the equator. Here, the shapes and sizes of features are correct. However, the features get stretched out near the poles. For example, on a Mercator projection Greenland is stretched out to look almost as big the United States. Other types of projections include conic, gnomonic, Robinson, and Winkel Tripel projections. - A conic projection uses a cone rather than a cylinder to project Earth’s curved surface onto a flat map. It best depicts the area where the cone touches the globe. This area depends on the choice of the map maker. - A gnomonic projection projects Earth surface onto a flat map from a single point. The projection is most accurate for features near that point. The poles are often mapped this way. - A Robinson projection creates an elliptical rather than rectangular map. Lines of latitude are represented by straight lines, whereas lines of longitude are represented by curved lines. This projection has less distortion near the poles than a Mercator project. - A Winkel Tripel projection uses mathematical formulas to create a flat map of Earth’s curved surface. This type of projection is distorted at the edges. The National Geographic Society uses Winkel Tripel projections.
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