Map Projections

Notes on Map Projections

• A projection is a way of representing the curved surface of the earth on a flat map.
• It is not possible to create a completely accurate flat map of the earth without distorting some of its features.
• Projections are used to minimize these distortions as much as possible, depending on the purpose of the map and the characteristics of the region being mapped.
• Different types of map projections include Mercator, Peters, and equal-area projections.
• It is important to choose the appropriate projection for the purpose of the map and the characteristics of the region being mapped.
• The four choices to make sure the globe fits on a paper are: shape of an area, distance between two areas, relative size of different areas, and direction.
• The Robinson projection is a compromise projection that tries to balance out some of the distortions inherent in all map projections.
• It is a modified version of the Mercator projection, designed to reduce some of the distortions near the poles while still preserving some of its useful properties.
• The Robinson projection is commonly used for world maps and other maps that aim to show the entire earth or a large region.
• It is not typically used for smaller-scale maps, such as street maps, because it distorts shapes and distances too much for such purposes.
• The Robinson projection is used to focus on oceans, but land masses appear smaller.