The Albers Equal-Area Conic projection is, as the name implies, equal area and conformal. This projection is used extensively by the USGS. The projection has concentric arcs of circles for parallels, which are not evenly spaced. This projection distorts scale and distance except along standard parallels.
The Cylindrical projection is an equal-area projection. The latitudes and longitudes of the globe are projected as straight lines. Lines of longitude are equally spaced. Lines of latitude are unequally spaced, closest near the poles, and cutting lines of longitude at right angles. Scale is true along the Equator. There is substantial scale and shape distortion near points 90 degrees from central line.
Same as Mercator, but ellipsoid.
The Equidistant Azimuthal projection is also known as the polar projection. Distances measured from the center of this projection are true. Distances measured along non-central radii are not correct. The center of this projection is the only point without distortion.
Georect is a SeaSpace-invented projection for displaying geostationary satellite data in a non-cylindrical rectangular format.
The Lambert Azimuthal projection is an equal-area projection, which, in the polar aspect, has a straight-line central meridian. It provides accurate distant measurements from the center of the map to any other point on the map, but distorts both area and shape.
The Lambert Conic is conformal, with parallels made up of unequally spaced arcs of concentric circles spaced more closely in the center of the map. Scale is normally true along two standard parallels. The meridians are equally spaced radii of the same circles and intersect the parallels at right angles.
A Mercator projection is a cylindrical projection that displays the meridians of longitude as evenly spaced vertical lines. This type of projection is especially useful in viewing equatorial regions, though not higher latitudes, especially the polar regions.
The Mollweide projection is generally used for world maps. The central meridian is straight, with all others curved. The parallels are straight but unevenly spaced.
The Orthographic projection is an azimuthal projection showing all meridians and parallels as ellipses, circles, or straight lines. This projection can only show one hemisphere at a time, however, and has severe distortion at the edges.
Perspective is used to show the Earth as seen from space. The central meridian and a particular parallel (if shown) are straight lines. Other meridians and parallels are usually arcs of circles or ellipses. Perspective is neither conformal nor equal area.
Another example of a stereographic projection, the Polarstereo map is centered at either Pole. The polarstereo projection offers a true perspective that is also conformal. (TeraMaster locks the view around either Pole using this projection.)
The Polyconic projection was used extensively by the U.S. Geological Survey in the early 20th Century. It is neither equal area nor conformal. It is true to scale along the central meridian, while the other meridians are curved and distorted.
A Rectangular map is an unprojected image that is formed by considering latitude and longitude as a simple rectangular coordinate system. This projection is used by many of the armed forces. Scale, distance, area, and shape are all distorted, with distortion increasing toward the poles.
The Stereographic projection is a conformal type projection with scale increasing away from the center of the map. Distortion in area and shape also increase from the center. This projection is mainly used for polar maps.
The Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection defines horizontal positions by dividing the world into six-degree zones.
