What is the Mercator projection simple definition?

Definition of Mercator projection : 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.

What is the meaning of Mercator?

Mercator (countable and uncountable, plural Mercators) (chiefly attributive) Pertaining to an orthomorphic map projection, in which meridians appear at right-angles to the equator, and lines of latitude are horizontal lines whose distance from each other increases with distance from the equator.

How would you describe a Mercator map?

Mercator-projection definition A cylindrical map projection in which the meridians and parallels appear as lines crossing at right angles and in which areas appear greater farther from the equator. Straight line segments represent true bearings, thus making this projection useful for navigation. noun.

What does the Mercator map accurately represent?

Cylindrical Projection – Mercator One of the most famous map projections is the Mercator, created by a Flemish cartographer and geographer, Geradus Mercator in 1569. It became the standard map projection for nautical purposes because of its ability to represent lines of constant true direction.

How does the Mercator projection work?

To keep longitude lines straight and maintain the 90° angle between the latitude and longitude lines, the Mercator projection uses varying distances between latitude lines away from the equator. As a result, the Earth’s poles and landmasses closest to them are distorted.

What are the 3 advantages of the Mercator projection?

Advantages of Mercator’s projection: – preserves angles and therefore also shapes of small objects – close to the equator, the distortion of lengths and areas is insignificant – a straight line on the map corresponds with a constant compass direction, it is possible to sail and fly using a constant azimuth – simple …

What is Mercator in geography?

His most famous work, the Mercator projection, is a geographical chart where the spherical globe is flattened into a two-dimensional map, with latitude and longitude lines drawn in a straight grid.

Which of the following is a characteristic of the Mercator projection?

Which of the following is a characteristics of the Mercator projection? The size and shape of countries in the higher latitudes are greatly exaggerated.

What do Mercator maps distort?

Mercator maps distort the shape and relative size of continents, particularly near the poles. This is why Greenland appears to be similar in size to all of South America on Mercator maps, when in fact South America is more than eight times larger than Greenland.

Why do we use Mercator projection?

This map, with its Mercator projection, was designed to help sailors navigate around the globe. They could use latitude and longitude lines to plot a straight route. Mercator’s projection laid out the globe as a flattened version of a cylinder. All the latitude and longitude lines intersected at 90-degree angles.