CARIS Geomatics Reference Guide : Map Projections : Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area
 

Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area

General

Suited for regions that extend equally in all directions from centre points, such as Asia and the Pacific Ocean.

Equal area but not conformal, perspective, or equidistant.

Directions

True only from the centre point.

Scale

Decreases gradually away from the centre point.

Areas

In true proportion to the same areas on the Earth.

Quadrangles bounded by two meridians and two parallels at the same latitude are uniform in area.

Shapes

Distortion increases away from the centre point. Any straight line drawn through a centre point is on a great circle.

Type

Azimuthal.

Mathematically projected onto a plane tangent to any point on the globe. The polar aspect is tangent only at a pole

History

Presented by Johann Heinrich Lambert in 1772.

Note

Not directly supported. Maps must be transformed before being used.

(United States Geological Survey, n.d.)