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Posted on February 22, 2023 (Updated on July 10, 2025)

Geometric difference between equal-area and conformal projection

Hiking & Activities

Conformal projections preserve angles locally, so the shapes of features appear true. But the cost of this quality is the distortion of areas and distances. Equal area projections preserve area, at the expense of angles, so the shapes of some places appear skewed.

What is the difference between equal area projection and conformal projection?

For example, conformal maps show true shapes of small areas but distort size. Equal area maps distort shape and direction but display the true relative sizes of all areas.
 

Can a projection be both conformal and equal-area?

Equal-area maps are also called equivalent or authalic. An equal-area map projection cannot be conformal, nor can a conformal map projection be equal-area. Several equivalent projections were developed in an attempt to minimize the distortion of countries and continents of planet Earth, keeping the area constant.

What is the main difference between different types of map projections?

The main difference between the types of map projections is the level or type of distortion.

What is the advantage of an equal area projection?

The equal area projection retains the relative size of the area throughout a map. So that means at any given region in a map, it keeps the true size of features.
 

What is the difference between CRS and projection?

Geographic vs Projected CRS



Geographic coordinate systems: coordinate systems that span the entire globe (e.g. latitude / longitude). Projected coordinate Systems: coordinate systems that are localized to minimize visual distortion in a particular region (e.g. Robinson, UTM, State Plane)
 

What is the difference between the GCS and a projected coordinate system?

What is the difference between a geographic coordinate system (GCS) and a projected coordinate system (PCS) anyways? Here’s the short answer: A GCS defines where the data is located on the earth’s surface. A PCS tells the data how to draw on a flat surface, like on a paper map or a computer screen.
 

What kind of projection is both conformal and equal-area?

The Mercator projection is a conformal projection, meaning that the shapes of countries are accurate. But the relative size of different landmasses is only accurate at the equator.
 

Why are equal-area projections inaccurate?

In an equal-area map, the shapes of most features are distorted. No map can preserve both shape and area for the whole world, although some come close over sizeable regions. If a line from a to b on a map is the same distance (accounting for scale) that it is on the earth, then the map line has true scale.

Is Mercator conformal or equal-area?

conformal

Mercator is a conformal map projection. Directions, angles, and shapes are maintained at infinitesimal scale. Any straight line drawn on this projection represents an actual compass bearing.

What is the difference between a conformal map and an equal area map quizlet?

In equivalent maps, the sizes are correctly corresponding to the actual sizes on Earth throughout the entire map. In conformal maps, the shapes are maintained across the map.

What is meant by conformal projection?

[map projections] A projection that preserves the correct shapes of small areas. In a conformal projection, graticule lines intersect at 90-degree angles, and at any point on the map the scale is the same in all directions.

What are major differences between Albers equal area conic projection and Lambert Conformal Conic projection?

Lambert Conformal Conic Projection



It looks like the Albers Equal Area Conic, but graticule spacings differ so that it’s conformal rather than equal area. It uses a conic developable surface secant at two standard parallels, usually at 33° and 45° to minimize distortion.
 

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