Why all world maps are wrong

Vox
2 Dec 201606:00
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script delves into the challenges of mapmaking, highlighting the inherent distortion that occurs when attempting to represent a spherical globe on a flat plane. It explains the concept of map projection and how different methods, such as the Mercator projection, prioritize certain attributes like shape preservation and navigational utility, over accuracy in size representation. The script also touches on the historical significance of the Mercator projection and its modern critique for perpetuating biases. It then contrasts this with the Gall-Peters projection, which offers a more accurate depiction of land area at the expense of shape distortion. The advent of GPS technology has shifted the focus from navigation to aesthetics and design in map projections. Despite the variety of projections available, the script concludes that there is no perfect solution, emphasizing the ongoing trade-offs and the importance of understanding these limitations when interpreting flat maps.

Takeaways
  • 🌐 The inherent challenge in map making is that a spherical surface cannot be represented on a flat plane without distortion.
  • 📏 Mathematicians have developed various algorithms and projections to translate the globe into a flat map since the 1500s.
  • 📦 Popular rectangular maps often use cylindrical projections, which involve projecting the globe onto a theoretical cylinder and then unrolling it.
  • 🔍 Each projection method involves trade-offs concerning shape, distance, direction, and land area.
  • 🧭 The Mercator projection is known for preserving the shape of countries and direction, making it useful for navigation, but it inaccurately represents the size of land masses.
  • 🌍 A comparison of Africa and Greenland on a Mercator map shows a significant size distortion, with Greenland appearing larger than it actually is relative to Africa.
  • 🌟 The Gall-Peters projection is an equal-area map that accurately represents the size of land masses but distorts their shapes.
  • 🛰️ The advent of the global positioning system (GPS) in the late 1960s reduced the need for paper maps for navigation, leading to a shift in map projection choices towards aesthetics and design.
  • 🗺️ Despite criticisms, the Mercator projection is still used by web mapping tools like Google Maps for its ability to preserve shape and angles for close-up views.
  • 🌐 Modern cartographers often opt for non-rectangular projections that balance the distortion of size and shape, such as the Winkel tripel projection adopted by the National Geographic Society.
  • 🔑 There is no single 'right' map projection; each offers a different perspective on the planet, and the best representation of the earth's true shape is a globe.
Q & A

  • Why is it difficult to represent a spherical surface on a flat plane without distortion?

    -The difficulty arises because the surface of a sphere cannot be perfectly flattened onto a plane without altering the shapes, distances, or areas of the objects it contains. This is due to the inherent geometric differences between a three-dimensional sphere and a two-dimensional plane.

  • What is the process called that is used to translate the globe into a flat map?

    -The process is called projection. It involves mathematical algorithms that transform the spherical coordinates into a two-dimensional representation.

  • How does a cylindrical projection work in the context of map making?

    -A cylindrical projection involves placing a theoretical cylinder over the globe and projecting each point of the sphere onto the cylinder's surface. Once this is done, the cylinder is 'unrolled' to create a flat, rectangular map.

  • What is the main issue with every map projection?

    -Every map projection comes with trade-offs that affect shape, distance, direction, and land area. It is impossible to create a perfect projection that accurately represents all these aspects without some form of distortion.

  • Why was the Mercator projection popular for navigation before the advent of GPS?

    -The Mercator projection was popular for navigation because it preserves direction, allowing sailors to draw a straight line between two points on the map, which would correspond to the correct compass angle to follow.

  • How does the Mercator projection distort the size of landmasses?

    -The Mercator projection distorts the size of landmasses by enlarging areas closer to the poles and making them appear larger than they actually are. This is due to the way the projection varies the distance between latitude lines.

  • What is the Gall-Peters projection, and how does it differ from the Mercator projection?

    -The Gall-Peters projection is an equal-area map projection that accurately represents the size of landmasses but distorts their shapes. Unlike the Mercator projection, which preserves shape and direction, the Gall-Peters projection aims to provide a more accurate representation of land area.

  • What technological advancement in the late 20th century changed the purpose of map making?

    -The advent of the Global Positioning System (GPS) in the late 1960s changed the purpose of map making by reducing the need for paper maps for navigation. This shift allowed map projection choices to focus more on aesthetics, design, and presentation rather than navigational accuracy.

  • Why do some modern web mapping tools still use the Mercator projection?

    -Some modern web mapping tools, like Google Maps, still use the Mercator projection because it preserves shape and angles, which makes close-up views of cities more accurate. A 90-degree turn on the map corresponds to an actual 90-degree turn on the ground.

  • What is the Winkel tripel projection, and why was it adopted by the National Geographic Society?

    -The Winkel tripel projection is a non-rectangular map projection that provides a balanced compromise between size and shape accuracy. It was adopted by the National Geographic Society in 1998 because it offers a pleasant balance between these two aspects, making it a more accurate representation of the world for general purposes.

  • What is the best way to truly see what the Earth looks like, according to the script?

    -The best way to truly see what the Earth looks like is to look at a globe, as it does not have the distortions that come with any map projection.

  • What is the main takeaway from the script regarding the use of flat maps?

    -The main takeaway is that while flat maps are useful for certain purposes, they all involve trade-offs due to the necessary distortions from projecting a spherical surface onto a flat plane. There is no one 'right' map projection; each provides a different perspective on the planet.

Outlines
00:00
🌍 The Challenge of Map Projections

This paragraph discusses the inherent challenges faced by map makers when attempting to represent a spherical globe on a flat map. It explains that any such projection will inevitably distort the map in some way, be it in shape, distance, direction, or area. The paragraph introduces the concept of cylindrical projections, which involve projecting the globe onto a theoretical cylinder and then unrolling that cylinder to create a flat map. It also highlights the Mercator projection, a popular map style that preserves country shapes and navigational directions but distorts the size of land masses, making some appear larger than they are in reality. The paragraph further points out that the Mercator projection, while useful for navigation before the advent of GPS, is now often criticized for its inaccuracies and potential to perpetuate biases.

05:02
🌐 The Evolution of Map Projections

The second paragraph explores the evolution of map projections following the introduction of satellite technology and the global positioning system (GPS). With the shift away from paper maps for navigation, the focus of map projections has moved towards aesthetics, design, and presentation. The paragraph notes that cartographers have largely moved away from the Mercator projection for world maps due to its inaccuracies, instead opting for a variety of non-rectangular projections that better balance size and shape accuracy. It mentions the adoption of the Winkel tripel projection by the National Geographic Society in 1998 for its balance between these two factors. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing that there is no single 'right' projection and that cartographers must choose from a wide array of projections, each offering a unique perspective on the planet.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Map Projection
Map projection is a method used to represent the three-dimensional surface of the Earth on a two-dimensional plane. It is central to the video's theme as it discusses the challenges and various techniques of projecting a spherical globe onto a flat map. The video explains that every projection involves trade-offs in terms of shape, distance, direction, and area.
💡Distortion
Distortion in the context of map projections refers to the inevitable inaccuracies that occur when attempting to represent the Earth's surface on a flat map. The video emphasizes that all map projections distort the true size, shape, or distance of geographical features in some way, which is a key dilemma for map makers.
💡Mercator Projection
The Mercator projection is a cylindrical map projection that preserves angles, making it particularly useful for navigation. It was created by Gerardus Mercator in the 16th century and is mentioned in the video as an example of a projection that preserves the shape of countries but significantly distorts their size, especially near the poles.
💡Gall-Peters Projection
The Gall-Peters projection is an equal-area map projection that accurately represents the size of landmasses but distorts their shapes. It is highlighted in the video as an alternative to the Mercator projection for those seeking a more accurate representation of size, although it comes with its own set of shape distortions.
💡Global Positioning System (GPS)
GPS refers to the satellite-based system that provides location and navigation data worldwide. The video notes that the advent of GPS in the late 20th century reduced the need for paper maps for navigation, which in turn shifted the focus of map projections from navigational utility to aesthetic and design considerations.
💡Cylindrical Projection
A cylindrical projection is a type of map projection where the Earth's surface is projected onto a cylinder, which is then unfolded into a flat map. The video uses this as an example to illustrate how popular rectangular maps are created, noting that this method preserves the shape of countries but can distort their size.
💡Shape Preservation
Shape preservation refers to the goal of maintaining the true shape of geographical features when projecting them onto a map. The video discusses how certain projections, like the Mercator, are designed to preserve the shape of countries, which is important for navigation but can lead to size distortions.
💡Navigation
Navigation is the process of determining position and direction to plan and control the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. The video explains that the Mercator projection was specifically designed with navigation in mind, allowing for the preservation of direction, which was crucial for oceanic travel before the GPS era.
💡Winkel Tripel Projection
The Winkel Tripel projection is a compromise map projection that attempts to provide a balance between size and shape accuracy. The video mentions that the National Geographic Society adopted this projection in 1998 because it offers a more balanced representation compared to other projections.
💡Aesthetics and Design
Aesthetics and design refer to the visual appeal and artistic aspects of map projections. After the introduction of GPS, the video explains that map projections became more focused on these qualities rather than strictly on navigational accuracy. This shift has led to a greater variety of projections being used for different purposes.
💡Globe
A globe is a three-dimensional, spherical model of the Earth. The video concludes by stating that the best way to see what the Earth really looks like is to view a globe, as it avoids the distortions inherent in all map projections. Globes provide an undistorted representation of the Earth's surface.
Highlights

The surface of a sphere cannot be represented as a plane without some form of distortion.

Mathematicians since the 1500s have been creating algorithms to translate the globe into a flat representation.

The process of creating a flat map from a globe is called projection.

Popular rectangular maps use cylindrical projections, which involve projecting the globe onto a theoretical cylinder.

Map projections come with trade-offs in shape, distance, direction, and land area.

The Mercator projection preserves the shape of countries and is used by Google Maps for navigation.

The Mercator projection was designed to provide the exact angle to follow on a compass for ocean navigation.

The Mercator projection distorts the size of landmasses, making Greenland appear about the same size as Africa, which is actually 14 times larger.

The Gall-Peters projection is an equal-area map that accurately displays the size of landmasses but distorts their shapes.

The advent of the global positioning system (GPS) in the late 60s reduced the need for paper maps for navigation.

Post-GPS, map projection choices became more focused on aesthetics, design, and presentation rather than navigational needs.

Modern cartographers often prefer non-rectangular projections that balance size and shape accuracy.

The Winkel tripel projection was adopted by the National Geographic Society in 1998 for its balance between size and shape accuracy.

There is no one 'right' map projection; cartographers and mathematicians have created a variety of projections, each offering a different perspective on the planet.

A globe provides the most accurate representation of the earth's shape, but flat maps will always involve trade-offs due to projections.

The Mercator projection has been criticized for perpetuating imperialist attitudes and ethnic bias against the third world.

Google Maps continues to use the Mercator projection for close-up views of cities due to its preservation of shape and angles.

Transcripts

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Related Tags
Map ProjectionsGerardus MercatorMercator DistortionGall-PetersEqual-AreaGISNavigationPre-GPSAestheticsAccuracyWinkel Tripel