Map Projections

Peters Projection

A cylindrical map projection that attempts to retain accurate sizes of all the world's land masses

azimuthal (polar) projection

A map which shows true compass directions; longitude lines are straight and latitude lines are circles; distorts shape and size more toward the outer edges.

Mercator Projection

A true conformal cylindrical map projection, the ____________ projection is particularly useful for navigation because it maintains accurate direction. ____________ projections are famous for their distortion in area that makes landmasses at the poles appear oversized.

sinusoidal projection

All parallels and the center meridian are straight lines with the other meridians curved; shapes are fairly accurate but increasing distortion toward the edges; no lines of true distance

Robinson Projection

Projection that attempts to balance several possible projection errors. It does not maintain completely accurate area, shape, distance, or direction, but it minimizes errors in each.

projection

The system used to transfer locations from Earth's surface to a flat map, also simply a flat map.

interrupted map projection

There are many different types of interrupted projection maps. These types of maps try to depict the continents as accurately as possible by leaving blank space in the less important areas of the map, such as in the oceans.

molleweide projection

a projection of a map of the world onto an ellipse, with lines of latitude represented by straight lines (spaced more closely toward the poles) and meridians represented by equally spaced elliptical curves. This projection distorts shape but preserves relative area.

cylindrical projection

a type of map projection in which distances measured along the equator are correct, but become more distorted along the poles

homolosine map projection

shape and size of continents are accurate but distances are not

equal-area projection

shows the size of regions in correct relation to one another but distorts shape