Merged Mercator projection to be phased out?

[The Atheist]

I'm pretty sure it's more of a pointing and laughing situation.

Yeah, there's a long history of people pointing and laughing at darkies, so it's no surprised you'd feel that way.

If there is any outrage, it would be over the fact that the replacement map they proposed showed Ukrainian territory as belonging to Russia..

Yes, because that's completely relevant to Africa.

 

[Orphia Nay]

I'm pretty sure it's more of a pointing and laughing situation. Of all the things the nations of sub-Saharan Africa could be asking the UN to help with...

What about X? What about Y? Whatabout...?

I suppose you know for certain every sub-Saharan African country isn't asking the UN for help with anything.

 

[Helen]

Does it really matter why they asked for this? A more realistic map seems a Good Thing. I'm fairly certain that a lot of people on this globe have no idea how weird the proportions of the Mercator projection really are, so using a more realistic representation makes sense.

 

[Planigale]

Does it really matter why they asked for this? A more realistic map seems a Good Thing. I'm fairly certain that a lot of people on this globe have no idea how weird the proportions of the Mercator projection really are, so using a more realistic representation makes sense.

People are free to choose their own map, and all maps are good for somethings and not others. The Peters equal area projection has long been promoted and is commonly used in UK schools. It is a fairer representation of countries true relative areas, is excellent for those countries between the tropics but distorts as you get close to the poles. Sub-polar countries could legitimately object to its use.

If the UN wants to have an approved list of projections and recommended use that seems reasonable. Perhaps a polar equal areas projection for polar issues, the mercator for maritime issues, the Peter projection or similar for general territorial use.

 

[Dr.Sid]

We are really only talking about map of the whole world. For anything else there are better projections.

 

[Darat]

Generally, colonies are regarded as subjugated lands far away from your own lands, whereas subjugating lands adjacent to your own is quite alright, not evil at all.

Does 12 miles away count as subjugated lands or is it near enough to not be evil?

 

[Darat]

I like this version of the Equal Earth projection best.

View attachment 75448

But that puts the UK on the edge of the world - we may fall off!

 

[Darat]

Personally I've never agreed with moving the centre of the world away from Jerusalem...

 

[catsmate]

Well the reasons to "change the map" were clearly political.

Actually showing land masses in more-or-less their correct size is being dismissed as "clearly political"?

 

[Steve]

The Mercator projection has been shown useful and practical for navigation, although likely becoming less so with GPS. The proposed new map has not been shown to have any practical uses beyond accuracy itself, and assuaging some egos. Not that accuracy is a bad thing, of course.

 

[P.J. Denyer]

But that puts the UK on the edge of the world - we may fall off!

We can put up railings.

 

[theprestige]

What about X? What about Y? Whatabout...?

I suppose you know for certain every sub-Saharan African country isn't asking the UN for help with anything.

I'm sure they are asking. As I understand it, the entire complaint of the Togolese is that UN agencies and member states don't treat SSA problems with the seriousness those problems deserve, because Africa looks relatively insignificant on the sui generis world map of our time.

As I've said from the very beginning, this is exactly the kind of thing the UN is good at.

 

[Dr.Sid]

Actually showing land masses in more-or-less their correct size is being dismissed as "clearly political"?

Yes. Since you typically don't measure areas of countries from map (there is no simple way), having correct area of a country has no real purpose. You can measure angles from map. You can judge what is in line and what isn't. You can measure distances (where Mercator is useless, but still).
If you are saying "I want the map the have all countries of the same size, even if the shape is heavily distorted" I don't see single practical cartographic reason to do that. It could be useful in education .. but first, globe already solves that, and second, I'm putting education under political.

 

[Dr.Sid]

The Mercator projection has been shown useful and practical for navigation, although likely becoming less so with GPS. The proposed new map has not been shown to have any practical uses beyond accuracy itself, and assuaging some egos. Not that accuracy is a bad thing, of course.

The map is NOT more accurate ! No map is accurate. There are just different things to prioritize. Angles, distances or sizes. You can't have all 3. Mercator is not less accurate. It is less accurate in sizes. It is more accurate in shapes and directions.

 

[Dr.Sid]

I'm sure they are asking. As I understand it, the entire complaint of the Togolese is that UN agencies and member states don't treat SSA problems with the seriousness those problems deserve, because Africa looks relatively insignificant on the sui generis world map of our time.

As I've said from the very beginning, this is exactly the kind of thing the UN is good at.

It's not even that Africa benefits from it much. Africa is basically untouched by the new projection, even the south regions. Same with India and South America. Europe is basically untouched, except for Nordic countries. USA (outside Alaska) and Australia are somewhat smaller in the new projection. Not significantly.
Only countries significantly affected are Canada, Alaska, Russia, Finland and Sweden. And the Greenland is out of proportion and god forbid someone also put Antarctica on the map.
The change is certainly not pro-US, nor pro-Africa.
Another thing is I have no theory as why the US were against it. Maybe because the new projection implies the world is round ?

 

[theprestige]

The Mercator is accurate in sizes, too. The distance scale changes in relation to latitude. You'd think that an audience that understands that the Hubble constant is not a fixed value, would be able to understand distance and area scales on a Mercator projection.

 

[catsmate]

Yes.

That says a lot about you.

Since you typically don't measure areas of countries from map (there is no simple way), having correct area of a country has no real purpose. You can measure angles from map. You can judge what is in line and what isn't. You can measure distances (where Mercator is useless, but still).
If you are saying "I want the map the have all countries of the same size, even if the shape is heavily distorted" I don't see single practical cartographic reason to do that. It could be useful in education .. but first, globe already solves that, and second, I'm putting education under political.

 

[Safe-Keeper]

Yes. Since you typically don't measure areas of countries from map (there is no simple way), having correct area of a country has no real purpose.

Teaching kids what the world looks like comes to mind. Also, according to the Wiki:

Equivalent projections are widely used for thematic maps showing scenario distribution such as population, farmland distribution, forested areas, and so forth, because an equal-area map does not change apparent density of the phenomenon being mapped.

It's a pity such a tiny and rational change has been turned into such a big deal by the culture war climate we live in, but it's just a sign of the times, I suppose. Or maybe it's an 'equality feels like oppression when you're accustomed to privilege' type of thing, since what the UN is doing is going from a projection that warps certain landmasses to one that renders countries with the correct proportions.

 

[Dr.Sid]

That says a lot about you.

Strong arguments, right there !

 

[theprestige]

Does it really matter why they asked for this? A more realistic map seems a Good Thing.

A good thing? Sure. An important thing? I'm unconvinced.

I'm fairly certain that a lot of people on this globe have no idea how weird the proportions of the Mercator projection really are, so using a more realistic representation makes sense.

I'm fairly certain that almost everyone on this globe has no particular need to know whether the proportions on the Mercator are weird or not. I'm fairly certain that almost everyone on this globe can live long and prosper, without ever bothering to notice or care about the proportions on the Mercator.