map projections

Robinson Projection

A map in which the lines of latitude and longitude almost intersect at right angles except near the edges; shows areas and distances with a high degree of accuracy, especially near the eastern and western edges of the map; outlines of continents appear accurate but shapes of areas near the poles are somewhat flat

Azimuthal 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; Either the North or South Pole is oriented at the center of the map; size and shape have distortion, especially toward the edges of the map; distances and directions are accurate when the line of travel passes through the Pole; often used in air navigation

Gall-Peters Projection

Has standard parallels of 45 degrees; sizes of landmasses are accurate but their shapes are distorted and distances are inaccurate

Mercator Projection

a map projection of the earth onto a cylinder; particularly useful for navigation because it maintains accurate direction; has distortion in area that makes landmasses at the poles appear oversized.

Conic Projection

a map projection of the globe onto a cone with its point over one of the earth's poles; accurate for small east-west areas of Earth in the middle latitudes;distances and directions fairly accurate

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

Goode's Interrupted Equal Area Projection

show true size and shape of the earth's landmasses, but distances generally not accurate