Ocean-Centered Map
October 14, 2018 9:27 AM Subscribe
The Spillhaus Projection reverses the traditional land-based map schemes. We all learn the names, locations, and even characteristics of the oceans in school. But unless we go into oceanography or some other body-of-water-centric profession, few of us keep them at our command. Maybe the loss of that knowledge has to do with our land-centricity as a species: not only do we live on the stuff, we also put it before water intellectually. Until now.
Reminds me of the buckminster dymaxion one ocean map from March 1, 1943 Life Magazine.
But cooler because it's curvier and French.
posted by otherchaz at 11:07 AM on October 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
But cooler because it's curvier and French.
posted by otherchaz at 11:07 AM on October 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
What surprised me is that by focusing on the oceans, it makes all our little landmasses seem tightly connected, like we're all together on this little ball and the barriers between us aren't as big as we imagine.
posted by ragtag at 2:09 PM on October 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ragtag at 2:09 PM on October 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
His NYT obituary is quite impressive. In addition to the accomplishments hinted at in the linked article, he was a prolific inventor of toys and helped put Roswell, N.M. on the map.
posted by TedW at 4:01 PM on October 14, 2018
posted by TedW at 4:01 PM on October 14, 2018
I can't wrap my head around this at all. I feel like it would be super useful to see this "unfold" from a 3D globe.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:16 PM on October 14, 2018
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:16 PM on October 14, 2018
Very interesting—thanks for posting. (Relevant xkcd link: What your favorite map projection says about you.)
I have a pet theory (N.B.: as will soon become evident, I am not an astrophysicist)—extraterrestrials interested in this planet will be (are?) focussed on the most obvious feature, i.e., water. They will assume that's where the action is, in terms of intelligent life, simply because it doesn't make sense for life to crowd on the limited amount of dry land, especially considering that so many bodies of land are isolated, while almost all water is connected.
When they arrive, their ships won't hover over our cities—they will have been traveling for untold years before they are even aware of such details. Rather, they will land (so to speak) in water with the hope of making contact with others like themselves. [Insert octopus comment here.]
Needless to say, their maps are ocean-centric.
posted by she's not there at 9:38 PM on October 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
I have a pet theory (N.B.: as will soon become evident, I am not an astrophysicist)—extraterrestrials interested in this planet will be (are?) focussed on the most obvious feature, i.e., water. They will assume that's where the action is, in terms of intelligent life, simply because it doesn't make sense for life to crowd on the limited amount of dry land, especially considering that so many bodies of land are isolated, while almost all water is connected.
When they arrive, their ships won't hover over our cities—they will have been traveling for untold years before they are even aware of such details. Rather, they will land (so to speak) in water with the hope of making contact with others like themselves. [Insert octopus comment here.]
Needless to say, their maps are ocean-centric.
posted by she's not there at 9:38 PM on October 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
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posted by Nanukthedog at 10:46 AM on October 14, 2018