whenever you try to map a curved (spherical) surface onto a flat map you get distortion. The only way to map a sphere accurately is to make a globe, all other methods are only appoximations.
The Mercator projection does that.
The cylindrical map projection, such as the Mercator projection, shows all latitude and longitude lines as parallel. However, this projection distorts the size of land masses the further they are from the equator.
A projection with parallel latitude lines and parallel longitude lines is known as a cylindrical projection. This type of projection preserves the shape of features along the equator and distorts them towards the poles. Examples include the Mercator and Miller cylindrical projections.
Mercator is not a map, but a map projection, i.e. a way of representing the continents on a map. The Mercator projection is only accurate between 30 degrees north and south latitude. The further away you go from that point, the greater the exaggeration.
The Mercator projection is the standard for nautical navigation.
The ability of the Mercator projection to allow straight and constant course lines. Or longitude and latitude lines.
The Mercator projection does that.
The cylindrical map projection, such as the Mercator projection, shows all latitude and longitude lines as parallel. However, this projection distorts the size of land masses the further they are from the equator.
A projection with parallel latitude lines and parallel longitude lines is known as a cylindrical projection. This type of projection preserves the shape of features along the equator and distorts them towards the poles. Examples include the Mercator and Miller cylindrical projections.
Mercator is not a map, but a map projection, i.e. a way of representing the continents on a map. The Mercator projection is only accurate between 30 degrees north and south latitude. The further away you go from that point, the greater the exaggeration.
The Mercator projection is the standard for nautical navigation.
The parallels of latitude and the meridians of longitude are all straight lines on the Mercator projection. That's why Greenland looks bigger than South America.
A map with parallel lines of latitude and longitude is known as a Mercator projection map. This type of map is often used for navigation purposes due to its representation of straight lines of latitude and longitude, making it easier to measure distances and plot courses. However, the Mercator projection distorts the size of landmasses, especially near the poles.
A mercator projection is defined as a projection of a map of the world onto a cylinder in such a way that all the parallels of latitude have the same length as the equator, used especially for marine charts and certain climatological maps. Congo, as depicted in mercator projection, is small.
The vertical (or latitude) scale increases with latitude, keeping the hoizontal (longitude) constant. This is in order to make the lines of longitude parallel on the chart, instead of, in reality, converging toward the poles. This allows courses to be plotted and drawn on the chart, as straight lines crossing the lines of longitude at the same angle. Known as 'plane sailing'. ie. it is on a plane (flat surface) not a globe.
The Mercator projection preserves straight lines, making it useful for navigation. It also shows true direction, making it valuable for sailors and pilots. Additionally, it accurately represents shapes and angles near the equator.
Distance on a Mercator chart is measured using the latitude scale, where each degree of latitude is equal to a specific distance in nautical miles. However, it's important to note that the Mercator projection distorts distances as you move towards the poles, elongating areas nearer the poles.