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The Mercator projection exaggerates areas far from the equator because it is not suited to general reference world maps due to its distortion of land area. The Mercator projection is still commonly used for areas near the equator.

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What is UTM WGS 1984 Grid System?

The UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) WGS 1984 grid system is a global map projection that divides the Earth into a series of 6-degree longitudinal zones, each projected using a transverse Mercator projection. It is based on the WGS 1984 datum, which provides a standardized reference for geographic coordinates. This system is widely used for mapping and navigation, offering high accuracy for small areas. Each zone has its own coordinate system, allowing users to pinpoint locations with precision.


What is the result of projecting a spherical surface onto a plane?

Projecting a spherical surface onto a plane typically results in a distortion of shapes, sizes, and distances, depending on the projection method used. Common projection methods, such as the Mercator projection, maintain certain properties like angles but distort areas, while others like the Lambert conformal conic preserve area but distort angles. The resulting image can appear stretched or compressed, leading to a two-dimensional representation that does not accurately reflect the three-dimensional nature of the sphere. This process is essential in cartography for mapping the Earth's surface.


What happens when you take a round globe and put it on a flat map?

It will roll around. To make a flat map from a round globe, a projection is used. In making the projection not all measures can be preserved and so distances will be stretched for some areas, and straight lines on the projection will correspond to curved lines on the globe. There are different projections that can be used which try to minimise the effect on different measures.


What do cartographers do with coordinate planes?

They project the surface of a sphere (the Earth) using a projection. Often the latitudes and longitudes are mapped onto the coordinate plane for small area but such projections distort shapes when mapping larger areas.


What is useful in larger outdoor areas is quick to implement simple to use and can be done by a single person inside or outside?

A portable projection screen can be very useful in larger outdoor areas, as it is quick to set up and easy to use. It allows for presentations, movie screenings, or events to be conducted by a single person, both indoors and outdoors. With lightweight materials and simple assembly, it can be transported easily, making it an ideal solution for various settings.

Related Questions

What is a disadvantage of the Mercator projection?

it distorts areas near the poles.


What is Mercartur projection?

The Mercator projection is a cylindrical map projection developed by Gerardus Mercator in 1569. It is designed for maritime navigation, as it preserves angles and shapes, making it easier for sailors to plot straight-line courses. However, this projection significantly distorts the size of landmasses, particularly near the poles, making regions like Greenland appear much larger than they are relative to equatorial areas. Despite its distortions, the Mercator projection remains widely used for maps and navigation due to its practical benefits.


What is the main features of the Mercator projection?

Mercator projection represents rhumb lines, which are useful for navigation. It makes the areas near the poles appear very large.


What is the main feature of the mercator projection?

Mercator projection represents rhumb lines, which are useful for navigation. It makes the areas near the poles appear very large.


What map has very little distortion in the areas or shapes of landmasses that fall along a certain line of latitude?

a map that has very little distortion in the areas or shapes of landmasses that fall along a certain line of latitude is called a map projection.


What is the common flaw for both the Robinson and Mercator projections of maps?

Both the Robinson and Mercator projections distort the size and shape of landmasses, particularly near the poles. They both struggle to accurately represent areas further from the equator, leading to distortions in the map.


If the continents were drawn using a Mercator projection are the chances improved of finding a fit?

It's the location. 'A projection is a system for mapping the round Earth on a flat surface. The Mercator projection map shows the accurate locations of the continents and oceans. The land and water areas, however, are greatly distorted toward the North and South Poles.'


What type of map is a Mercator map?

Mercator is not a map, but a map projection, i.e. a way of representing the continents on a map. The Mercator projection is only accurate between 30 degrees north and south latitude. The further away you go from that point, the greater the exaggeration.


Why does a mercator projection exaggerate the areas of land masses near the poles?

The Mercator projection distorts the size of land masses as it represents the Earth's curved surface on a flat plane. This projection maintains angles and shapes, making it useful for navigation, but it stretches areas near the poles significantly. As a result, regions like Greenland and Antarctica appear much larger than they are in reality, while equatorial regions are shown more accurately. This distortion occurs because the projection uses a cylindrical method, which cannot perfectly represent the spherical shape of the Earth.


Landmasses near the poles are distorted on this type of map?

Polar azimuthal maps or polar projections distort landmasses near the poles due to the nature of projecting a spherical surface onto a flat one. The distortion increases as you move towards the poles, making areas like Greenland and Antarctica appear larger than they actually are.


What is the Mercator projection map?

The Mercator projection is a cylindrical map projection that distorts the size of land masses as they get closer to the poles, making areas near the poles appear larger than they actually are. This projection is commonly used in marine navigation due to its ability to maintain straight lines of constant bearing.


Which Projection was better Mercator or Lambert?

The choice between Mercator and Lambert projections depends on the purpose of the map. Mercator is better for navigation and preserving angles, while Lambert is better for areas near the poles and preserving areas and distances accurately. Choose Mercator for navigation, Lambert for area accuracy.