How are equal-area projections of Earth inaccurate?
A. There are distortions near the center of the map
B. Directions and the shapes of the landmasses are distorted
C. This projection does not show true sizes
D. Areas close to the poles are disproportionately large
C. This projection does not show true sizes
The correct answer is C. This projection does not show true sizes.
Equal-area projections, also known as equal-area maps, are designed to maintain accurate relative areas of landmasses on a map. However, they are inaccurate in showing true sizes. While the landmasses' areas are preserved, other characteristics such as shapes, directions, and distances may be distorted. Therefore, option C is the correct answer.
To determine why equal-area projections of Earth are inaccurate, let's go through each option one by one:
A. There are distortions near the center of the map: Equal-area projections, such as the Mollweide projection or the Robinson projection, aim to maintain accurate relative sizes of regions on Earth. However, this comes at the cost of distorting shapes and directions near the map's center. So, while this option could be a valid reason for the inaccuracies of some projections, it is not specific to equal-area projections.
B. Directions and the shapes of the landmasses are distorted: This statement is true. Equal-area projections tend to distort shapes and angles. For example, landmasses near the poles can appear stretched or elongated. Similarly, lines of latitude and longitude are usually curved and not parallel or perpendicular to each other, contributing to an overall distortion in shape and direction.
C. This projection does not show true sizes: Yes, this is a valid reason. Although equal-area projections attempt to maintain relative sizes, they often do not accurately represent the true sizes and areas of the landmasses. Some regions can appear larger or smaller than they actually are in reality.
D. Areas close to the poles are disproportionately large: This is indeed a consequence of equal-area projections. Landmasses near the poles tend to appear larger than they are in reality. This distortion occurs because equal-area projections attempt to spread out the surface of the Earth onto a flat, two-dimensional plane, resulting in a stretching effect toward the polar regions.
In summary, both option B (distorted shapes and directions) and option D (disproportionate sizes near the poles) accurately describe the inaccuracies of equal-area projections. However, option C (not showing true sizes) encompasses the overall idea of equal-area projections not accurately representing the sizes of landmasses. Therefore, the correct answer is C. This projection does not show true sizes.