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How do the different types of projection systems change the way we see the world? |
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Maps convey four major characteristics of the earth: area, shape, direction, and distance. No map projection method can illustrate these four characteristics accurately; each method compromises some aspect of each characteristic. This has led cartographers, scientists, and mathematicians to develop different projection methods to minimize the amount of distortion in each characteristic. It is important to understand the properties of distortion associated with each type of projection method, so that you can choose the maps describing the earth that are most useful in meeting your needs.
When making map projections, scale change depends on two factors: the distance between the plane and the globe's surface and the angle between the plane and the globe's surface. Therefore, distortion occurs less at the point of the map held tangent to the globe's surface, and distortion increases as the projected image moves away from this point because the distance between the map and the globe increases just as the angle between the map and the globe increases.
Observe how the shapes on the map change when the map changes from a Mercator projection to a conic projection. Notice how the pattern of parallels and meridians changes in different map projection systems.
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