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Mercator maps are not accurate representations of the Earth because they distort size and shape, particularly near the poles. While they preserve angles and directions, making them useful for navigation, they significantly exaggerate the size of landmasses like Greenland and Antarctica. This distortion occurs because the Earth’s spherical surface is projected onto a flat plane, leading to inaccuracies in area and scale. As a result, areas closer to the equator appear more proportionate, while polar regions appear much larger than they actually are.

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1w ago

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What kind of maps Is a rectangular representation of earth that shows accurate directions but distorts size and distance?

mercator projection


What A Mercator projection map shows?

accurate directions but has distorted sizes and distances


What is Mercator's tome?

Mercator's tome refers to a book written by the cartographer Gerardus Mercator. It is typically a reference to his most famous work, the "Atlas," which contained a collection of maps that revolutionized the way maps were made and used in the 16th century. Mercator's maps were known for their innovative projection method, which allowed for accurate navigation for sailors and explorers.


Which direction maps are the most accurate?

The part of a map that tells direction


What are some sentence examples using the word mercator projection in a sentence?

Mercator projection is a way of making maps so that the earth's surface is shown flatly.


What is the difference between Google Maps and Google Earth regarding spatial referencing?

Google Maps uses WGS-84 Web Mercator which is a slight variation of the Mercator projection.Google Earth uses Simple Cylindrical (Plate Carree) projection with a WGS84 datum for its imagery base.


What variant of Mercator projection does Google Maps use?

Google Maps is based on a close variant of the Mercator projection. Google Maps uses the spherical Mercator, but the coordinates on Google Maps are the GPS coordinates based on the WGS 84 datum. Also, because Mercator projects the poles at infinity, Google Maps cannot show the poles so instead it cuts off coverage at 85.051125° north and south.


What are Mercator maps useful in mapping?

Geographysailors in the pastContinentSeasCountriesetc.


Was Gerardus Mercator the first person to use the word atlas to describe a collection of maps?

In 1589, Gerardus Mercator used the word "Atlas" to describe a collection of maps.


Flat maps that represent a portion of the round earth?

Flat maps that represent a portion of the round earth are called "world maps". These maps use projections to show the Earth's curved surface on a flat surface, with distortions in size, shape, distance, or direction. Popular world maps include the Mercator projection, the Peters projection, and the Winkel Tripel projection.


Who was improved mapmaking aided circumnavigation of the globe?

The improved mapmaking techniques developed by Gerardus Mercator in the 16th century, particularly the Mercator projection, greatly aided in navigation and circumnavigation of the globe. This projection allowed for accurate representation of the Earth's surface on flat maps, making it easier for navigators to plot their course accurately across long distances.


What maps projection do nearly all seagoing navigators still use today?

The answer is the Mercator projection