Source(s): https://shrinke.im/a0Cmi. an irregularity or abnormality in the shape or perception of something. 2. in psychology, the process of altering or disguising unconscious ideas or impulses so that they become acceptable to the conscious mind. While it’s true that in geography “distortion” usually refers to the ways that flat maps incorrectly portray the true spatial dimensions and relationships of features (real or imagined) of the spherical earth, there are many other types of geographical distortions as well. The relative distortion is expressed in percent. 1 : the act of twisting or altering something out of its true, natural, or original state : the act of distorting a distortion of the facts. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The only way not to incur that distortion, is to keep the representation of the Earth tied to a 3D dimension such as a globe. No projection allows us to flatten the globe without distorting it. Distortion ellipses help us to visualize what type of distortion a map projection has caused, how much distortion occurred, and where it occurred. mirafuentes. A globe is a scaled down model of the Earth. Source(s): https://shrinke.im/a0Cmi. A map that preserves shape is conformal. Definition of distortion. 43: 910480192 Although they can represent size, shape, distance and directions of the Earth features with reasonable accuracy, globes are not practical or suitable for many applications. Meridian, imaginary north–south line on the Earth’s surface that connects both geographic poles; it is used to indicate longitude. 1. an act or instance of distorting. Start with a sphere or ellipsoid because that is the true form of the Earth. 0 0. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for distortion, Nglish: Translation of distortion for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of distortion for Arabic Speakers, Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about distortion. Relevance. 0 0. Accessed 15 Jan. 2021. The act or an instance of distorting. Examples of Distortion in a sentence. The shape of the Earth is represented as a sphere. The 40th meridian, for example, has … Which of the following refers to thin, bending ice, or to the act of running over such ice. distortion definition: 1. a change to the intended or true meaning of something: 2. a change to the original or natural…. Still have questions? Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Distortions synonyms, Distortions pronunciation, Distortions translation, English dictionary definition of Distortions. Converting a sphere to a flat surface results in distortion. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. This is the most profound single fact about map projections—they distort the world—a fact that you will investigate in more detail in Module 4, Understanding and Controlling Distortion. 3. Distortion disadvantages for maps depicting the entire world of the: shape, distance, relative size, and direction of places on maps Geographic Information System (GIS) Distort definition, to twist awry or out of shape; make crooked or deformed: Arthritis had distorted his fingers. Imaginary lines running horizontally around the globe. He accused reporters of wilful distortion. Geography was therefore the study of how the physical environment caused human activities (e.g., Diamond – Guns, Germs, and Steel) ... distortion … Map projections and distortion. Delivered to your inbox! What is a Map Projection? Distortion: The further away you are from the actual object while looking at it on a map, the more distorted it is. Distortion: Abnormal or unrealistic representation of Earth's features and characteristics on a map: Geographic Information System (GIS) Computer system that can capture, store, query, analyze, and display geographic data; uses geocoding to calculate relationships between objects on a map's surface: Global Positioning System (GPS) Map makers have devised methods for taking points on the curved surface of the earth and "projecting" them onto a flat surface. The Mercator map is so popular that most people have a mental image of the world that is wildly inaccurate. 8 years ago. What was said was a distortion of the truth. Imagine a map projection as an attempt to reconstruct your face in two dimensions. Distortions synonyms, Distortions pronunciation, Distortions translation, English dictionary definition of Distortions. Distortion The act of distorting something, misrepresenting something. It is also modeled more accurately as an oblate spheroid or an ellipsoid. Learn more. 4. Author has 281 answers and 168.1K answer views. Start studying AP Human Geography, Key Issue 1: 4 Types of Distortions. Although they can represent size, shape, distance and directions of the Earth features with reasonable accuracy, globes are not practical or suitable for many applications. The ellipses show how imaginary circles on the globe are deformed because of a particular projection. This is what makes compromise projections good for world maps. It is also modeled more accurately as an oblate spheroid or an ellipsoid.A globe is a scaled down model of the Earth. Curved surface of the truth out of a particular projection curved surface of the following refers to thin bending... 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