Ch o o s ing Pr o jections

Maps of the world in one sheet Large countries in mid-latitudes

C a n a d a
Sinusoidal (Equal-area) Lambert Azimuthal (Equal-area)
Parallels: Horizontal, spaced equally at true distances Parallels: Curves, spaced closer near poles on central meridian
Meridians: Sine curves, spaced equally, true on each parallel Meridians: Curves, spaced closer near sides of equator
Other: Awkward shape Other: Bearings true from centre

Continental areas

C h i n a ,
Quartic Authalic (Equal-area) Albers equal-area (Equal-area)
Bonne (Equal-area)

Asia and North America

Parallels: Horizontal, spaced equally Parallels: Concentric circles, spaced closer at N and S ends
Meridians: Curved Parallels: Concentric circles, spaced equally at true distances Meridians: Radiating straight lines, spaced equally, true on one or two
Other: Arithmetic mean between sinusoidal and Mollweide Meridians: Curves, spaced equally, true on each parallel standard parallels

R u s s i a ,
Other: Considerable distortion in NE and NW corners Other: Ideal for United States

Mollweide (Equal-area) Bonne (Equal-area)

Parallels: Horizontal, spaced closer near poles
Lambert Azimuthal (Equal-area) Parallels: Concentric circles, spaced equally at true distances
Meridians: Curves, spaced equally, true on each parallel

S t a t e s ,
Meridians: Ellipses, spaced equally Parallels: Curves, spaced closer near poles on central meridian
Other: Pleasing shape Meridians: Curves, spaced closer near sides of equator Other: Considerable distortion in NE and NW corners
Other: Bearings true from centre

Hammer (Equal-area) Lambert conformal conic (Conformal)

U n i t e d
Parallels: Curved, spaced equally Parallels: Concentric circles, spaced wider at N and S ends
Meridians: Curved, spaced closer on central meridian Meridians: Radiating straight lines spaced equally true on one or two
Albers, with two standard parallels (Equal-area) standard parallels

E u r o p e a n d A u s t r a l i a
Parallels: Concentric circles, spaced closer at N and S ends
Meridians: Radiating straight lines, spaced equally, true on one or two
Eckert IV (Equal-area) standard parallels
Other: Ideal for United States
Parallels: Horizontal, spaced closer near pole; poles are lines half
length of equator Small countries in mid-latitudes
Meridians: Ellipses, spaced equally. Sine curves, spaced equally Lambert Azimuthal (Equal-area)
Other: Poles represented as lines; considerable distortion in poleward
Parallels: Curves, spaced closer near poles on central meridian Albers equal-area (Equal-area)
areas
Meridians: Curves, spaced closer near sides of equator
Parallels: Concentric circles, spaced closer at N and S ends
Mercator (Conformal) Other: Bearings true from centre
Meridians: Radiating straight lines, spaced equally, true on one or two
Parallels: Horizontal, spaced closer near equator standard parallels
Meridians: Vertical, spaced equally, true on equator Other: Ideal for United States
Other: All bearings correct
A m e r i c a Bonne (Equal-area)
Mollweide (Equal-area) Parallels: Concentric circles, spaced equally at true distances
Robinson (Orthophanic or compromise)
Parallels: Horizontal, spaced closer near poles Meridians: Curves, spaced equally, true on each parallel
Parallels: Horizontal, equally spaced between 38 N and S, spaced Meridians: Ellipses, spaced equally Other: Considerable distortion in NE and NW corners
closer near poles Other: Pleasing shape
Meridians: Vertical, spaced equally, concave towards central meridian
Other: Commonly used

Bonne (Equal-area) Polar Regions

Parallels: Concentric circles, spaced equally at true distances
Thematic Mapping Techniques and Projections Lambert Azimuthal (Equal-area)
S o u t h

Meridians: Curves, spaced equally, true on each parallel

Technique When Appropriate Data Example Projection Parallels: Curves, spaced closer near poles on central meridian
Other: Considerable distortion in NE and NW corners
Choropleth Map Portraying a geographical theme of continuous or discrete Derived values, ratios, proportions: Equal-area
Meridians: Curves, spaced closer near sides of equator
phenomena occurring within areal enumeration units violent crime by county Other: Bearings true from centre

Common Dot Map Used to show spatial numerousness of discrete Absolute number: dairy cattle Equal-area Sinusoidal (Equal-area)
geographic phenomena
Parallels: Horizontal, spaced equally at true distances
a n d

Proportional Symbol Displaying discrete phenomena at points, or to represent Absolute number or derived values: Equal-area Meridians: Sine curves, spaced equally, true on each parallel
aggregate data at points employ-ment in retailing by cities Other: Awkward shape

Isarithmic Map Used when total form of continuous phenomena is Absolute values, ratios, proportions: Equal-area
Hemispheres and continents
warranted population density
Orthographic (Visual)
A f r i c a

Lambert Azimuthal (Equal-area)

Value-by-area This map is used for continuous or discrete phenomena
Cartogram when data are available by enumeration unit
Used to show movement of goods or ideas between
Flow Map places; used to show interaction between places
Absolute values, ratios, proportions:
dollars spent on education per capita
Absolute values: tons of wheat
shipped
Equal-area
Parallels: Curves, spaced closer near poles on central meridian Parallels: Ellipses, spaced closer near periphery
Azimuthal Meridians: Curves, spaced closer near sides of equator Meridians: Ellipses, spaced closer near periphery
Equidistant, Other: Bearings true from centre Other: View of earth as if from space; neither equal area nor
Conformal conformal