MERCATOR PROJECTION\
MERCATOR PROJECTION: This is the useful projection to the
navigator.
It allows him to draw a straight line from departure point to
the destination and to measure the steady course he has to
maintain to arrive there.
Characteristics of a Mercator Chart:
[Link] is Orthomorphic - though areas appear larger in higher
Latitudes, directions are correct.
The Equator appears as a straight line.
3. All Meridians appear as straight lines parallel to one another.
4. The distance between consecutive meridians is correct.
5. All Meridians cross the equator at right angles.
6. All Meridians & Parallels of Latitude cross at right angles.
7. Parallels of Latitude appear as straight
lines parallel to one another.
8. The distance between consecutive parallels increases as Latitude
increases.
9. One minute of d’long is the same size in all parts of the chart.
[Link] minute of d’lat increases in size steadily as we go away from
the Equator.
[Link] regions do not appear.
[Link] line appear as straight Lines.
[Link] Great Circle patch (GCP) always lies on the Pole ward side of
the Rhumb line.
MERCATOR SAILING:
When the distance between two places exceeds 600 NM, it is
recommended that calculation is done by Mercator Sailing.
Accurate results than Plane & Parallel sailing method.
The calculation by Mercator Sailing is more accurate as
compared to Plane sailing as the DMP (Difference in Meridinal
Parts) takes into account the spheroid shape of the Earth and
DMP is accurately known.
D’long/DMP = Tan Co.
Dist = d’lat X Sec Co.
MERIDINAL PARTS:
Meridinal Parts for any latitude is the arc of the meridian, or the
angle at the centre of the earth, contained between the Equator and
that parallel of latitude, expressed in minutes of Longitude, the N-S
distance from equator to any parallel of latitude, expressed in
minutes of Longitude is called the Meridinal Part for that latitude.
DMP (Difference of Meridinal Parts):
Between any two parallels of latitude is the arc of the meridian, or
the angle at the centre of the earth, contained between those two
parallel of latitude expressed in minutes of Longitude.
(DMP is obtained from Nautical Tables. Same names subtract,
different names add)
Course 0320 (T) N 320 E distance 238 NM.
Enter Traverse Tables from top- (If Course is less than 450,
enter with distance from top to get departure & d’lat.
If > 450 enter with distance from bottom and get departure and
d’lat. (Interpolate for the correct value).
Apply d’lat to initial Lat & get arrival Lat.
Then get M’lat.
Same way with M’lat as course & departure, enter TT from
top /bottom and get d’long. Interpolate as required.
Apply d’long to the departure longitude and get arrival
longitude.
To obtain Course from Traverse Table, when arrival Lat & Long
and Departure Lat & long are given;
Find d’lat, d’long & m’lat.
Enter Traverse Table with m’lat & d’long and get departure.
To get course, enter TT with d’lat & departure.
Interpolate as required.
To get distance, enter TT with Course and d’lat.
Interpolate as required.