Kevin's Cards about Maps and Globes Flashcards
Cartographer Definition
Someone who makes maps
Map Projections Definition
Special ways of representing the round Earth on a flat surface
What are the 4 properties or features Mapmakers use when they devise a map projection
Distance, Area, Shape, and Direction
What are the 3 categories a map projection can be group into
Cylindrical, Azimuthal, and Conic
Cylindrical Projection Definition
World maps with a cylindrical projection are most accurate near the equator and most distorted near the poles
Azimuthal (Planar) Projection Definition
Cartographers use azimuthal projections to show polar regions because azimuthal maps are most accurate at the center
Conic Projection Definition
If you placed a cone over a globe so it covered about half the globe, and then the images on the globe “jumped” onto the surface of the cone, you’d have a conic map projection. Conic projection maps are most accurate around the circle where the globe and cone touch
What is the most famous Cylindrical Projection
The Mercator projection is probably the most famous cylindrical projection
Why do sailors like the Mercator Projection
Sailors like to use Mercator maps because a line connecting two points on a Mercator map gives the best indication of the compass direction to follow
What is the problem with the Mercator Map
The size of the landmasses far from the equator are very badly distorted (For Example Greenland is much bigger than it really is)
Why was the Robinson Projection made
The Robinson Projection was created to improve upon some of the shortcomings of older projections like the Mercator
What does the Robinson Projection do
The Robinson minimizes distortion of most of the Earth’s landmasses
What type of projection is the Robinson Projection
Cylindrical Projection
What is the problem with the Robinson Projection
Because it is a cylindrical projection, however, there is still distortion in the high latitudes
Many cartographers believe what about the Robinson Projection
Many cartographers think the Robinson projection best represents the size and shape of the Earth’s landforms
What does the Goode’s Interrupted Homosoline Projection do
Interrupted projections show the surface of the Earth in segments. The main advantage of an interrupted projection is that it minimizes distortion of the scale and shape of landforms
What is the negative of the Goode’s Interrupted Homosoline Projection
The disadvantage of the Goode’s Interrupted Homosoline Projection is that it breaks Antarctica and the oceans into pieces
What type of projection is the Goode’s Interrupted Homosoline Projection
Cylindrical Projection
What does the Miller Projection do
It avoids scale exaggerations
Why do Mapmakers use the Miller Projection
To represent the entire Earth in a rectangular frame, mapmakers frequently use the Miller projection (sometimes called the Miller cylindrical projection)
What features are found in the Miller Projection
It has straight meridians and parallels that meet at right angles
What is the negative of the Miller Projection
Distorts shapes and sizes and distortion is extreme in high latitudes as is evident with Antarctica
What type of projection is the Miller Projection
Cylindrical Projection
What is the Mollweide Projection
The Mollweide projection is an equal-area projection. It has an elliptical shape
