How does the Mercator projection distort the map?

Although the linear scale is equal in all directions around any point, thus preserving the angles and the shapes of small objects, the Mercator projection distorts the size of objects as the latitude increases from the equator to the poles, where the scale becomes infinite.

What was the Mercator map projection and why was it important?

This map, with its Mercator projection, was designed to help sailors navigate around the globe. They could use latitude and longitude lines to plot a straight route. Mercator’s projection laid out the globe as a flattened version of a cylinder. All the latitude and longitude lines intersected at 90-degree angles.

How does map projection affect map distortion?

Area. A map that preserves the area of a feature (also called equal-area projections) will display the feature in its exact size. An equal-area map projection will distort shape, angle, scale, or any combination of the three.

Why is the Mercator map so distorted?

In modern times, this is particularly useful since the Earth can be depicted as seamless in online mapping applications. That said, the true sizes of landmasses become increasingly distorted the further away from the equator they get. Mercator’s map inadvertently pumps up the sizes of Europe and North America.

Why does Mercator projection distort the poles?

To keep longitude lines straight and maintain the 90° angle between the latitude and longitude lines, the Mercator projection uses varying distances between latitude lines away from the equator. As a result, the Earth’s poles and landmasses closest to them are distorted.

Does the Mercator projection distort distance?

The images below show that the popular Mercator projection distorts are and distance everywhere but near the equator. Distortion along the parallels and meridians (left), in area (center), and in form (right). Mercator preserves the form (shape) of areas but greatly exaggerates distance and area.

What did Gerardus Mercator accomplish?

He is most renowned for creating the 1569 world map based on a new projection which represented sailing courses of constant bearing (rhumb lines) as straight lines—an innovation that is still employed in nautical charts. Mercator was a highly influential pioneer in the history of cartography.

How did the Mercator projection give an advantage to colonial powers?

Other critics say that this projection and the large size of continents like Europe gave an advantage to the colonial powers because it made them appear larger than they really are. This advantage eventually led to the lack of development in many equatorial regions that appear smaller on the Mercator maps.

Where is the most distortion found on a Mercator map?

Mercator maps distort the shape and relative size of continents, particularly near the poles. This is why Greenland appears to be similar in size to all of South America on Mercator maps, when in fact South America is more than eight times larger than Greenland.

Which map projection has the least distortion?

The only ‘projection’ which has all features with no distortion is a globe. 1° x 1° latitude and longitude is almost a square, while the same ‘block’ near the poles is almost a triangle. There is no one perfect projection and a map maker must choose the one which best suits their needs.

How did Gerardus Mercator create the map?

Mercator created his maps by meshing his technical expertise making globes with mathematical insights. Mercator was born to a shoemaker on March 5, 1512 in Rupelmonde, Flanders (the Belgian town is about 15 miles from Antwerp). In 1569, Mercator developed a better, more accurate projection.