Map Projections
Geography: KS3, topic 1.1.8
Map Projections
The world’s surface is three-dimensional but maps are two dimensional. A map projection transforms a 3D surface into a 2D surface.
Map projections
- A map projection translates the 3D surface of the Earth in a 2D surface in cartography.
- Map projections always contain some inaccuracies.
Mercator projection
- The Mercator projection is the most commonly used projection.
- The Mercator projection increases the size or area of landmasses away from the equator:
- Antarctica appears to be much larger than it is in reality.
- Africa appears to be much smaller than it is in reality.
Other projections
- The Peters projection maintains the relative areas of landmasses but distorts their shapes to do this.
- There are many other types of projection maps including the Cassini, conic and the equirectangular projections.
- Different map projections can distort areas, distances or directions between the landmasses on Earth.
Test yourself on Map Projections
Which projection is most commonly used on maps of the world?
Which property of the landmasses of the world is distorted by the Peters projection?