what is a mercator projection?

One of the most famous map projections is the Mercator, created by a Flemish cartographer and geographer, Geradus Mercator in 1569. But the problem extends way beyond the classroom. Disadvantages: Mercator projection distorts the size of objects as the latitude increases from the Equator to the poles, where the scale becomes infinite. A description is provided of the conversions of geodetic latitude and longitude into transverse Mercator grid co-ordinates, and vice-versa, for coverage of wide extent, with sub-millimetre accuracy tested up to 80 degrees from the central ... The Transverse Mercator projection illustrated above (Figure 2.22.2) minimizes distortion within UTM zone 30. The Mercator projection is a useful navigation tool, as a straight line on a Mercator map indicates a straight course, but it is not a practical world map, because of distortion of scale near the poles. His name is a latinized version of Gerhard Kramer. This report presents basic information on the Mercator projection, including its variations, and a selected glossary. Consequently, what are the advantages and disadvantages of a Mercator projection? Nicholas Crane-a fellow geographer-has combined a keen eye for historical detail with a gift for vivid storytelling to produce a masterful biography of the man who mapped the planet. This map's grid is rectangular and lines of latitude and longitude are parallel throughout. It was developed by Gerardus Mercator in the sixteenth century, in the year 1569. It was presented by Gerardus Mercator in 1569. World Map (Mercator Projection) Copy. To be completely honest, it IS a convenient map. The Web Mercator projection which is commonly used for Web Maps. MERCATOR PROJECTION: GNOMONIC PROJECTION: On a mercator projection chart, lines of latitude are parallel as are lines of longitude. Google Maps use a Spherical Normal (equatorial) variant of the Mercator projection for its map images. The Mercator map was developed in 1569 by Gerardus Mercator as a navigation tool based on a rectangular grid with parallel lines of latitude and longitude. Mercator projection, type of map projection introduced in 1569 by Gerardus Mercator. The Mercator projection was mainly used for maps. With any map projection style, the big challenge lies in depicting a spherical object as a 2D graphic. The shortest route between two points is an arc of great circle (that is, a … The Mercator projection was useful for navigation, though. Iceland is far smaller than Borneo, but their respective shapes are correct. This map projection has properties that suite navigational uses. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Mercator Projection. The most popular of these is the Mercator projection. In 1569, Mercator published his epic world map. The projection of Mercator is a cylindrical cartographic projection that represents the whole terrestrial surface. The Mercator map can not be called world map, because it is impossible to display the entire earth on this map. What is the difference between Mercator and Gnomonic projections? Have you ever looked at a map of the world and wondered how big some countries are and how tiny some other countries are? So, for example, Greenland and Antarctica appear much larger relative to land masses near the equator than they actually are. The straight lines ‘worked’ when you were travelling on the high seas. Mercator maps: Use and criticism. The Miller projection is a compromise between Mercator and Gall-Peters. The projection is the most heavily used in our society, appearing everywhere from books to apps to Google Maps, and tends to be what most of us think of when pondering the world map. In addition, this projection distorts area and distances dramatically in higher latitudes. When paired with a suitable geodetic datum, the transverse Mercator delivers high accuracy in zones less than a few degrees in east-west extent. The Mercator projection is a map projection that was widely used for navigation since loxodromes are straight lines (although great circles are curved). The Mercator Projection has many flaws and it is a prime example of how map bias can shape one’s world view. A Mercator map is a technique where compass directions are shown as straight lines. Now, you may ask what a cylindrical map projection is. While the Mercator projection is conformal, Web Mercator (Mercator Auxiliary Sphere) is not. Caveira: Border is a strong map for roamers on the defending team. The white rectangle represents the area you want to map. The transverse Mercator map projection is an adaptation of the standard Mercator projection. A large-scale (1:24,000) 7.5-minute USGS Topographic Map based on the Transverse Mercator projection is nearly correct in every respect. 8 terms. It retains most of Mercator’s shape, but removes some of the extreme size distortion. Finally, the Mercator projection was a false target for criticism, since it was designed as a navigation device, and never intended for world maps. The Mercator projection allows navigators to find the route with constant heading between two points on the globe. Disadvantages: Mercator projection distorts the size of objects as the latitude increases from the Equator to the poles, where the scale becomes infinite. The Mercator projection preserves all angles in their correct shape, and that means if yo measure the angle using this projection, you get the right direction in the real world — useful in map navigation. And so it caught on, and has stuck with us ever since. Fifty-nine variations on this projection are used to minimize distortion in the other 59 UTM zones. All projections involve some degree of distortion, and those showing the entire Earth involve a large degree. It is a cylindrical map projection that is a product of its time. North is north, always. Have you ever said, “hey look Russia is bigger than Africa!”, “Canada is as nearly big as Africa!” ?? The property of the Mercator projection map that made it useful to navigators is that it preserves angles. A brief history of the Mercator Projection. A Mercator map is a technique where compass directions are shown as straight lines. It helped sailors map routes to distant places and became the standard for world navigation. A Mercator map translates the globe onto a flat map. Many other projections are used, for example, the conic projection, drawn from a point directly above the North or South Pole. His name is a latinized version of Gerhard Kramer. (This projection is also called Spherical Mercator or Web Mercator.) If you leave Lisbon in your caravel and head west, then you will hit Delaware. mercator projection Flashcards. To solve this problem, mapmakers have created map projections. This work discusses and illustrates the known map projections from before 500BC to the present, with facts on their origins and use. It is also used for marine navigation since the lines of constant direction appear as straight lines on the map. That is why it is so good at navigation. 2. The Mercator projection is defined the way it is because while it carries these issues, it also holds significant advantages over other projections. For a general display of all countries of the world, the Mercator map is not suitable because of the excessive distortion of area. The Web Mercator projection which is commonly used for Web Maps. But not all of it – the bounds of Pseudo-Mercator are limited to approximately 85.06º North and South latitude. The Mercator is a conformal projection. Notice here how Greenland looks the right size as compared to South America. What are the advantages of conic projection? Browse 34 sets of mercator projection flashcards. Web Mercator, despite its popularity, is a very poor projection and introduces a lot of size and distortion errors which we will discuss further. This is his famous world map of 1569. The Mercator map is a cylindrical map projection first introduced by the Flemish geographer and cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569. Mercator Silhouette Map c Tobias Jung Robinson Silhouette Map c Tobias Jung. Was invented by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, the Transverse Mercator ) system cartography, especially so long... So you can see the distortion in the year 1569 projection standard S4210. The cylindrical Equal area than a few degrees in east-west extent ( ). Transverse Mercator ) system GIS ) the maritime world relies primarily on three types of distortion, you another! 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