On the Definition of Standard Parallels in Map Projections

Abstract

The article belongs to the field of theoretical research on map projections. It is observed that there is no unique and generally accepted definition of standard parallels in the cartographic literature. For some authors, a standard line is a line along which there is no distortion, and for others, it is a line along which there is no distortion of length. At the same time, it is forgotten that the length distortions at any point generally change and depend on the direction. The main goal of this article is very simple: the sentence “linear deformation is zero in all directions” is expressed using a mathematical formula. Besides that, the paper introduces equidistance in a broader sense. This is a novelty in the theory of map projections. Equidistance is defined at a point, along a line and in an area, especially in the direction of the parallels and especially in the direction of the meridian. This enables an unambiguous definition of standard parallels. Theoretical considerations are illustrated with examples of cylindrical projections. The practical value of the proposed approach is manifested in the possibility of a better understanding of the distribution of distortions in any map projection used.