航海英语航海英语2.-Chart-Projections.pdfVIP

NAVIGATION Chart Projections A chart projection is a way to project the earth’s surface, which is spherical, onto paper, which is flat. So there will always be distortion. The navigator must know the different types of chart projections and the principles of their constructions, so that the chart projection that will have the least possible distortion for a particular area can be chosen. Types of Projections � Gnomonic � Lambert Conformal � Mercator � Polar Stereographic � Polyconic. Each projection has its own advantages and disadvantages. The most popular for navigational charts are the Gnomonic and Mercator projections. Gnomonic charts are usually used for the Polar Regions, while Mercator charts are usually used for the remaining areas on earth. Gnomonic Chart A Gnomonic chart, sometimes called a “Great Circle Chart”, is constructed on the gnomonic projection. It is a geometrical projection in which surface features and the reference lines of the sphere are projected outward from the center of the earth onto a tangent plane. A Gnomonic chart is often used to transfer a great circle to a Mercator chart. Advantages � A great circle is drawn as a straight line;