Geography

Paper 1

2020

QNO.7
Discuss merits and demerits of Equal Area Projection and Zenithal Projection

QNO.8 (a)
Cylindrical Projection

Answer
A map projection is one of many methods used to represent the 3-dimensional surface

of the earth or other round body on a 2-dimensional plane in cartography (mapmaking).

This process is typically, but not necessarily, a mathematical procedure (some methods

are graphically based).

Creation of a Map Projection

The creation of a map projection involves three steps in which information is lost in each
step:

1. selection of a model for the shape of the earth or round body (choosing between
a sphere or ellipsoid)

2. transform geographic coordinates (longitude and latitude) to plane coordinates

(eastings and northings).

3. reduce the scale (in manual cartography this step came second, in digital
cartography it comes last)
Metric properties of maps
Maps assume that the viewer has an orthogonal view of the map (they are looking

straight down on every point). This is also called a perpendicular view or normal view.
The metric properties or a map are

 area

 shape
 direction

 distance
 scale

Categories
 Area preserving projection – equal area or equivalent projection

 Shape preserving – conformal, orthomorphic

 Direction preserving – conformal, orthomorphic, azimuthal (only from a the

central point)
 Distance preserving – equidistant (shows the true distance between one or two

points and every other point)

Types of Map Projections

Planar, Azimuthal or Zenithal projection
Conic projection/Equal Area Projection
Cylindrical projection

The ways in which we visualize the world are varied- we have pictures, maps, globes,

satellite imagery, hand drawn creations and more

For centuries mankind has been making maps of the world around them, from their
immediate area to the greater world as they understood it at the time. These maps
depict everything from hunting grounds to religious beliefs and speculations of the

broader, unexplored world around them.

Maps have been made of the local waterways, trade routes, and the stars to help

navigators on land and sea make their way to different locations.

How we visualize the world not only has practical implications, but can also help shape

our perspectives of the Earth we live in.

There are many kinds of maps made from a variety of materials and on a variety of

topics.

Clay tablets, papyrus, and bricks made way for modern maps portrayed on globes and

on paper; more recent technological advances allow for satellite imagery and
computerized models of the Earth.

Certain map projections, or ways of displaying the Earth in the most accurate ways by
scale, are more well-known and used than other kinds.

Three of these common types of map projections are cylindrical, conic, and azimuthal.

Cylindrical Map Projections/ Mercator

Cylindrical map projections are one way of portraying the Earth.

This kind of map projection has straight coordinate lines with horizontal parallels

crossing meridians at right angles. All meridians are equally spaced and the scale is
consistent along each parallel.

Cylindrical map projections are rectangles, but are called

cylindrical because they can be rolled up and their edges mapped in a tube, or cylinder.

The only factor that distinguishes different cylindrical map projections from one another
is the scale used when spacing the parallel lines on the map.

The downsides of cylindrical map projections are that they are severely distorted at the
poles.

While the areas near the Equator are the most likely to be accurate compared to the
actual Earth, the parallels and meridians being straight lines don’t allow for the curvature

of the Earth to be taken into consideration.

Cylindrical map projections are great for comparing latitudes to each other and are

useful for teaching and visualizing the world as a whole, but really aren’t the most
accurate way of visualizing how the world really looks in its entirety.

Types of cylindrical map projections you may know include the

popular Mercator projection, Cassini, Gauss-Kruger, Miller, Behrmann, Hobo-Dyer, and

Gall-Peters.
Conic Map Projections/ Lambert Conformal Conic

Secondly, conic map projections include the equidistant conic projection, the Lambert
conformal conic, and Albers conic.

These maps are defined by the cone constant, which dictates the angular distance
between meridians.

These meridians are equidistant and straight lines which converge in locations along the
projection regardless of if there’s a pole or not.

Like the cylindrical projection, conic map projections have parallels that cross the
meridians at right angles with a constant measure of distortion throughout. Conic map

projections are designed to be able to be wrapped around a cone on top of a sphere

(globe), but aren’t supposed to be geometrically accurate.

Conic map projections are best suited for use as regional or hemispheric maps, but
rarely for a complete world map.

The distortion in a conic map makes it inappropriate for use as a visual of the entire
Earth but does make it great for use visualizing temperate regions, weather maps,

climate projections, and more.

Azimuthal Map Projection/ Stereographic
The azimuthal map projection is angular- given three points on a map (A, B, and C) the

azimuth from Point B to Point C dictates the angle someone would have to look or

travel in order to get to A.

These angular relationships are more commonly known as great circle arcs or geodesic

arcs.

The main features of azimuthal map projections are straight meridian lines, radiating out

from a central point, parallels that are circular around the central point, and equidistant
parallel spacing.

Light paths in three different categories (orthographic, stereographic, and gnomonic)

can also be used. Azimuthal maps are beneficial for finding direction from any point on

the Earth using the central point as a reference.

Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection.

Map projection types all have their pros and cons, but they are incredibly versatile.

Even though it is nearly impossible to create an entirely accurate map projection there
are uses for even the most imperfect depictions of the Earth.

Map projections are created for certain purposes and should be used for those
purposes. In the end each and every map projection has a place, and there is no limit to

the amount of projections that can be created.

QNO.8 (b)
Answer is on CSS Book

General Science and Ability

Page no.27

QNO.8 (c)
Its answer is on CSS Notes

CSS Paper Solution

1--On Page No.13

CSS 2017 (QNO.2)

2-- On Page No.17

CSS 2018 (QNO.4)