Charts & Maps

Question 1

Outline Lambert chart properties

Answer 1

– Conformal.
– Meridians of longitude are straight lines. Parallels of latitude are
concentric circles intersecting meridians at 90 degress.
– Great circles are straight lines.
– Rhumb lines are curved, concave to the nearest pole.
– Constant Scale. Easy to measure distance.

Question 2

Outline Mercator properties

Answer 2

– Laterally stretched around the poles so meridians on the chart remain
parallel causing significant distortion.
– Rhumb line is a straight line, great circle is a slight curve.
– Conformal, but sacrifices a constant scale to do so by stretching
vertically (relative chart distance increases significantly as the area
moves towards poles).
– Size and shape of large continents distorted. Smaller land areas less
noticeably effected.

Question 3

Outline Mercator properties

Answer 3

– Laterally stretched around the poles so meridians on the chart remain
parallel causing significant distortion.
– Rhumb line is a straight line, great circle is a slight curve.
– Conformal, but sacrifices a constant scale to do so by stretching
vertically (relative chart distance increases significantly as the area
moves towards poles).
– Size and shape of large continents distorted. Smaller land areas less
noticeably effected.