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conic projection

conic projection

7.9
A map that shows the Earth's surface on a cone placed over the globe
  • noun
  • /ˈkoʊnɪk prəˈdʒɛkʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : proyección cónica
  • The conic projection is often used for mapping mid-latitude regions because it balances area and shape distortion.

Examples

  • Many road and weather maps are based on a conic projection to accurately represent larger areas.

  • When creating her atlas, the cartographer chose a conic projection for optimal representation of the continent.

  • The conic projection is useful for mapping mid-latitude regions.

  • Many cartographers prefer the conic projections for their accuracy.

  • Many road and weather maps are based on a conic projection to accurately represent larger areas.

  • The conic projection is often used for mapping mid-latitude regions because it balances area and shape distortion.

  • When creating her atlas, the cartographer chose a conic projection for optimal representation of the continent.

Synonyms

conical projection
vsconic projection
  • Specialized
8.9

A way to make a flat map by copying Earth onto a cone over part of the globe

has identical meaning but uses the form without the -al ending

Surface Forms

Morphology

conic + projection

The term is compositionally transparent: it denotes a projection that is cone-shaped, directly combining 'conic' (having the form of a cone) with 'projection' (a depiction or mapping). A learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to a map projection using a cone, even if some technical construction details remain specialized.

Etymology

Conic projection: The conic part comes from a paper cone placed over a globe, and the projection part is the act of copying the globe's surface onto that cone; mapmakers used this simple picture to make a map. When they flatten the cone, the image becomes a 'map', so the term means a type of 'map' made by projecting the Earth onto a cone, which fits wide areas that are not near the equator or the poles.