CARIS HIPS and SIPS : CARIS Geomatics Reference Guide : Map Projections : Lambert Conformal Conic
 

Lambert Conformal Conic

General

Used to show a country or region that is principally east-west in extent.

One of the most widely used map projections in the United States. It looks like Albers Equal Area Conic, but graticule spacings differ.

The Lambert Conformal Conic projection retains conformality.

Conformal but not perspective, equal area, or equidistant.

Directions

Reasonably accurate.

Distances

True along standard parallels.

Reasonably accurate elsewhere in limited regions.

Areas

Distortion is minimal at the standard parallels but increases with distance.

Shapes

Distortion is minimal at the standard parallels but increases with distance.

Shapes on large-scale maps of small areas are essentially true.

Type

Conic.

Mathematically projected onto a cone conceptually secant at two standard parallels.

History

Presented by Johann Heinrich Lambert in 1772.

Note

Directly supported.

(United States Geological Survey, n.d.)