[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.00,0:00:01.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,♪
Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.93,0:00:03.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Alright, here we go!
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.06,0:00:07.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If I want to turn this globe \Ninto a flat map,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.20,0:00:09.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I’m going to have to cut it open.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.01,0:00:21.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In order to get this globe to look \Nanything close to a rectangle lying flat,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.51,0:00:24.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've had to cut it in several places.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.03,0:00:28.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've had to stretch it so the \Ncountries are starting to look all wonky.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.26,0:00:34.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And even still, it's almost impossible \Nto get it to lay flat.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.03,0:00:37.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that right there is the eternal \Ndilemma of map makers.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.90,0:00:39.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The surface of a sphere cannot be
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.99,0:00:43.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,represented as a plane without some form\Nof distortion.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.02,0:00:46.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was mathematically proved,\Nby this guy, a long time ago.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.24,0:00:47.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since around 1500s,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.58,0:00:50.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mathematicians have set about\Ncreating algorithms that
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.69,0:00:53.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would translate the globe \Ninto something flat.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.10,0:00:55.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And to do this, they use a \Nprocess called projection.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.17,0:00:58.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Popular rectangular maps use a cylindrical\Nprojections.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.04,0:01:03.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Imagine putting a theoretical cylinder\Nover the globe and projecting each of the
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.40,0:01:07.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,points of the sphere onto \Nthe cylinder’s surface.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.04,0:01:10.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Unroll the cylinder, and you have a flat,\Nrectangular map.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.98,0:01:13.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But you could also project the globe onto\Nother objects,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.94,0:01:16.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the math used by map makers \Nto project the globe
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.97,0:01:20.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Will effect what the map\Nlooks like once it’s all flattened out.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.16,0:01:25.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And here’s the big problem: Every one of\Nthese projections comes with trade offs in
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.08,0:01:28.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,shape, distance, direction and land area.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.42,0:01:30.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Certain map projections can \Nbe either misleading
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.72,0:01:32.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or very helpful \Ndepending on what
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.90,0:01:34.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you are using them for.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.03,0:01:35.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here’s an example.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.07,0:01:37.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This map is called the \NMercator projection.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.01,0:01:41.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you’re American, you probably studied \Nthis map in school.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.03,0:01:43.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It’s the projection Google Maps uses.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.34,0:01:46.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Mercator projection is popular \Nor a couple of reasons.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.44,0:01:49.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,First, it generally preserves the \Nshape of the countries.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.18,0:01:53.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Brazil on the globe has the same shape as\NBrazil on the Mercator projection.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.71,0:01:54.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Ding]
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.71,0:01:58.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the real purpose of the Mercator\Nprojection was navigation --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.10,0:02:01.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it preserves direction,\Nwhich is a big deal if you are
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.42,0:02:03.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to navigate\Nthe ocean with only a compass.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.75,0:02:06.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was designed so that a line drawn \Nbetween two points
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.36,0:02:08.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the map \Nwould provide the exact
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.14,0:02:11.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,angle to follow on a compass to \Ntravel between those points.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.04,0:02:15.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we go back to the globe, you can \Nsee that this line is not shortest route.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.97,0:02:20.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it provides a simple, reliable way to\Nnavigate across the ocean.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.37,0:02:23.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Gerardus Mercator, who created the \Nprojection in the 16th century,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.70,0:02:27.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was able to preserve direction \Nby varying the distance between
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.19,0:02:29.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the latitude lines \Nand also making them straight.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.00,0:02:32.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Creating a grid of right angles.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.52,0:02:34.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that created some other problems.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.35,0:02:37.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Where Mercator fails is its representation\Nof size.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.28,0:02:39.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Look at the size of Africa\Nas compared to Greenland.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.86,0:02:42.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the Mercator map they look \Nabout the same size.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.32,0:02:45.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if you look at a globe for \NGreenland’s true size,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.39,0:02:48.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you’ll see it’s way \Nsmaller than Africa
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.43,0:02:51.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By a factor of 14 in fact.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.20,0:02:55.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we put a bunch of dots, on the globe, \Nthat are all the same size,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.59,0:02:58.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then we projected that \Nonto the Mercator map
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.12,0:02:59.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we would end up with this.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.39,0:03:02.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The circles retain their round shape, \Nbut are enlarged
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.32,0:03:04.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as they get closer to the poles.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.04,0:03:08.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One modern critique of this is that the \Ndistortion perpetuates imperialist
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.05,0:03:11.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,attitudes of European domination \Nover the southern hemisphere
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.61,0:03:16.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"The Mercator projection has fostered \NEuropean imperialist attitudes for centuries
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.01,0:03:18.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and created a ethnic bias \Nagainst the third world."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.96,0:03:19.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Really?"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.89,0:03:23.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if you want to see a map that more \Naccurately displays land area,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.16,0:03:26.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can use the Gall-Peters projection,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.54,0:03:27.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is called an equal-area map.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.24,0:03:29.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Look at Greenland and Africa now.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.82,0:03:31.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The size comparison is accurate.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.40,0:03:33.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Much better than the Mercator.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.20,0:03:37.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it’s obvious now that the country \Nshapes are totally distorted.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.10,0:03:41.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here are the dots again so we can see how\Nthe projection preserves area
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.02,0:03:43.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while totally distorting shape.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.03,0:03:47.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Something happened in the late 60s
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.19,0:03:49.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that would change the whole \Npurpose of mapping
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.45,0:03:51.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the way we think about projections.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.32,0:03:55.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Satellites orbiting our planet started \Nsending location and navigation data
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.32,0:03:57.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to little receiver units all \Naround the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.93,0:03:58.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Rocket blasting off]
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.96,0:04:02.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Today orbiting satellites of the \NNavy Navigation Satellite System
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.33,0:04:07.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,provide round the clock, ultra precise \Nposition fixes, from space,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.61,0:04:11.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to units everywhere in \Nany kind of weather."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.94,0:04:16.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This global positioning system \Nwiped out the need for paper maps
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.41,0:04:18.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a means of navigating
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.17,0:04:19.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,both the seas and the sky.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.49,0:04:23.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Map projection choices became less about \Nnavigational imperatives and more about
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.68,0:04:25.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,aesthetics, design,and presentation
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.08,0:04:30.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Mercator map, that once vital tool of \Npre-GPS navigation,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.52,0:04:32.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was shunned by cartographers who
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.54,0:04:33.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,now saw it as misleading.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.07,0:04:38.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But even still, most web mapping tools \Nlike Google Maps, use the Mercator.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.73,0:04:42.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is because the Mercator’s\Nability to preserve shape and angles makes
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.61,0:04:46.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,close-up views of cities more accurate -- \Na 90 degree left turn on the map
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.79,0:04:50.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a 90 degree left turn on \Nthe street you’re driving down.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.17,0:04:52.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The distortion is minimal when \Nyou are close up.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.96,0:04:57.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But on a world map scale, \Ncartographers rarely use the Mercator.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.61,0:04:59.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Most modern cartographers have \Nsettled on a
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.58,0:05:02.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,variety of non-rectangular \Nprojections that
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.23,0:05:05.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,split the difference between distorting\Neither size or shape.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.38,0:05:09.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In 1998 The National Geographic Society \Nadopted The Winkel-Tripel projection
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.22,0:05:10.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because of it’s pleasant balance
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.91,0:05:12.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between size and shape\Naccuracy.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.16,0:05:16.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the fact remains, that there is \Nno one right projection.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.04,0:05:19.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Cartographers and mathematicians have \Ncreated a huge library
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.54,0:05:21.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of available projections.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.23,0:05:23.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Each with a new perspective on the planet.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.45,0:05:25.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And each useful for a different task.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.21,0:05:27.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The best way to see the Earth\Nis to look at a globe.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.65,0:05:31.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as long we use flat maps, \Nwe'll have to deal with the trade-offs
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.67,0:05:32.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of projections,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.28,0:05:33.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And just remember:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.65,0:05:35.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there’s no right answer.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.61,0:05:40.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you yourself want to poke fun at \Nthe Mercator projection
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.54,0:05:44.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can do so, \Nby going to thetruesize.com
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.35,0:05:48.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which is a fun tool that allows you to \Ndrag around whatever country you want
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.36,0:05:51.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,around the map and see how it \Nis distorted depending on where it is.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.76,0:05:54.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I also want to say a big thanks, \Nto Mike Bostock
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.70,0:05:56.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who's open source project \Non map projections,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.34,0:05:57.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was a huge help in this video.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.100,0:06:02.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll put a link to both of those things \Ndown in the description.