Maps, Globes, and Projections

• Globes are the only true models of the

earth.• Globes are not

practical to carry around and consult for everyday use.

So how do you convert a bulky globe

into a convenient map?

If we could peel the earth and

lay the peel out flat, then there

would be an accurate flatpicture of the

globe.

But that result would be very difficult to read!

So ancient scientists solved the problem by projecting a light through a transparent globe on to a flat piece

of paper.

The problem is the that flat map is only accurate at the points that match the surface

of the round globe.

So parts of every flat map are always distorted or inaccurate

• So different projections have different uses.– Some are good for seeing continents– Some are good for traveling the oceans– Some are good for exploring the poles

LET’S SEE WHICH PROJECTIONSARE USEFUL FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

MERCATOR

LAMBERT CONICAL

INTERRUPTED