Mercator Projection Definition Quizlet

The map is thereby conformal.

Mercator projection definition quizlet. The most popular map projection in the world has been around for 448 years now. Because the world is round this makes for some not so accurate geographical representations. Mercator projection definition is a conformal map projection of which the meridians are usually drawn parallel to each other and the parallels of latitude are straight lines whose distance from each other increases with their distance from the equator. Mercator projection a map projection introduced by flemish cartographer gerardus mercator in 1569.

It was created by flemish cartographer gerardus mercator in 1569 a time when antarctica hadnt even been discovered. As a result it is a good projection for general use. Mercator was designed as a navigational tool for sailors as it was most convenient to hand plot courses with parallel rules and triangles on this map. The mercator projection m er k e t er is a cylindrical map projection presented by flemish geographer and cartographer gerardus mercator in 1569.

It was developed by gerardus mercator in the sixteenth century in the year 1569. This cartographic projection has been heavily criticized for the fact that it distorts forms as it approaches the poles making the land masses look larger than they actually are. An azimuthal projection drawn to show arctic and antarctic areas. 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.

It is limited to 10 or 15 degrees from the poles. A map that curves inward to fix the distortion of the mercator but makes the landmasses look smaller than they really are. A region in which all rainfall eventually flows downhill through a system of streams and tributaries into the same body of water such as the catchment basin of a river or lake. It is based on a plane perpendicular to the earths axis in contact with the north or south pole.

It became the standard map projection for navigation because it is unique in representing north as up and south as down everywhere while preserving local directions and shapes. Read the definitions below and then answer the question that follows. The mercator projection was one of the first important maps created by europeansit was produced by gerard mercator a flemish mapmaker who lent his name to his famous work. A region in which fresh milk is produced and can be delivered without spoilage.

The projection of mercator is a cylindrical cartographic projection that represents the whole terrestrial surface.