Loximuthal

Description

Loximuthal is a compromise pseudocylindrical projection. Loxodromes, or rhumb lines, are shown as straight lines with the correct azimuth and scale from the intersection of the central meridian and the central parallel.

The loximuthal projection was first presented by Karl Siemon in 1935. Waldo R. Tobler independently introduced the projection in 1966 and named it loximuthal. It is available in ArcGIS Pro 1.0 and later and in ArcGIS Desktop 8.0 and later.

An example of the loximuthal projection
The loximuthal projection is shown centered on Greenwich.

Projection properties

The subsections below describe the loximuthal projection properties.

Graticule

Loximuthal is a pseudocylindric projection. The meridians are regularly distributed complex curves. They are concave toward the central meridian, which is projected as a straight line. The parallels are equally distributed straight lines perpendicular to the central meridian. The poles are presented as points. For most central parallels, the projection outline forms a pumpkin shape. The graticule is symmetric across the central meridian.

Distortion

The loximuthal projection is neither conformal nor equal area. It generally distorts shapes, areas, distances, directions, and angles. Scale is true along the central meridian, and it is constant along a latitude. Only the point of intersection of the central meridian and the central parallel is free of distortion. As the value of the central parallel increases from the equator, the overall shape of the world becomes more distorted. Distortion values are symmetric only across the central meridian.

Usage

The loximuthal projection is useful to show loxodromes only.

Limitations

The loximuthal projection is supported on spheres only. For an ellipsoid, the semimajor axis is used for the radius.

Parameters

Loximuthal parameters are as follows:

  • False Easting
  • False Northing
  • Central Meridian
  • Central Parallel 1

Sources

Snyder, J. P. (1993). Flattening the Earth. Two Thousand Years of Map Projections. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.

Snyder, J. P. and Voxland, P. M. (1989). An Album of Map Projections. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1453. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.