APHUG Maps & Projections Quiz

Helps

Cartogram

a map that distorts the geography of a region to make its size directly proportional to a specific numerical variable, such as population, GDP, or travel time, rather than its actual land area

Choropleth

a thematic map that uses variations in color or shading to represent the intensity or density of a statistical variable within defined geographical areas

Robinson Projection 

a mid-level map projection that attempts to create a visually appealing, flat map of the entire world by minimizing distortions of shape, distance, area, and direction through a process of computer-based trial and error

Graduated dot

graduated symbol map that uses dots or circles of different sizes to represent quantitative data across a map. A larger dot indicates a greater value or magnitude of the phenomenon being mapped, while a smaller dot represents a lesser value

Mercator Projection

a cylindrical map projection that preserves shapes and directions but distorts the size of landmasses, particularly near the poles, making them appear much larger than their true area

Isoline

a line on a map that connects points of equal value

Physical map

primarily shows natural landforms like mountains, valleys, rivers, and deserts, focusing on the Earth's topography and features rather than human-created boundaries

Political Map

a type of map that displays the boundaries and divisions of human-made territories, such as countries, states, counties, and cities

Homolosine projection

a type of interrupted, equal-area, pseudocylindrical map projection that preserves the shape and area of landmasses by dividing the oceans into lobes, resembling a peeled orange

Gnomonic projection

a type of map projection that is tangent to the Earth at a single point, projecting points from the center of the globe onto a tangent plane