Map Projections

This post features six different map projections that illustrate variability in map projections.

GCS WGS 1984

Distance between Washington, DC and Kabul, Afghanistan

·         Geodesic – 100.36 Decimal Degrees

·         Loxodrome – 117.4 Decimal Degrees

·         Great Elliptic – 100.4 Decimal Degrees

The Geodesic and Great Elliptic measurements feature lines with an arc, while the loxodrome measurement features a straight line.

Mercator

Distance between Washington, DC and Kabul, Afghanistan

·         Geodesic – 11,159,983 meters

·         Loxodrome – 13,055,122 meters

·         Great Elliptic – 11,159,992 meters

Equidistant Conic

Distance between Washington, DC and Kabul, Afghanistan

·         Geodesic – 11,159,983 meters

·         Loxodrome – 13,055,122 meters

·         Great Elliptic – 11,159,992 meters

Equidistant Cylindrical

Distance between Washington, DC and Kabul, Afghanistan

·         Geodesic - 11,159,983 meters

·         Loxodrome – 13,055,122 meters

·         Great Elliptic – 11,159,992 meters

Behrmann

Distance between Washington, DC and Kabul, Afghanistan

·         Geodesic - 11,159,983 meters

·         Loxodrome – 13,055,122 meters

·         Great Elliptic –  11,159,992 meters

 Cylindrical Equal Area

Distance between Washington, DC and Kabul, Afghanistan

·         Geodesic – 11,159,983 meters

·         Loxodrome – 13,055,122 meters

·         Great Elliptic – 11,159,992 meters