Mapping Toolbox

distortcalc

Calculate distortion parameters for a map projection

Syntax

• areascale = distortcalc(lat,long)
  areascale = distortcalc(mstruct,lat,long)
  [areascale,angdef,maxscale,minscale,merscale,parscale] = 
  distortcalc(...)
  

Background

Map projections inevitably introduce distortions in the shape and size of objects as they are transformed from three-dimensional spherical coordinates to two-dimensional cartesian coordinates. The amount and type of distortion varies between projections, over the projection, and with the selection of projection parameters such as standard parallels. This function allows a quantitative evaluation of distortion parameters.

Description

areascale = distortcalc(lat,long) computes the area distortion for the current map projection at the specified geographic location. An area scale of 1 indicates no scale distortion. Latitude and longitude may be scalars, vectors or matrices in the angle units of the defined map projection.

areascale = distortcalc(mstruct,lat,long) uses the projection defined in the map structure mstruct.

[areascale,angdef,maxscale,minscale,merscale,parscale] = distortcalc(...) computes the area scale, maximum angular deformation of right angles (in the angle units of the defined projection), the particular maximum and minimum scale distortions in any direction, and the particular scale along the meridian and parallel. distortcalc may also be called with fewer output arguments, in the order shown.

Examples

At the equator, the Mercator projection is free of both area and angular distortion:

• axesm mercator
  [areascale,angdef] = distortcalc(0,0)
  areascale =
        0.99825
  angdef =
        0.10009
  

At 60 degrees north, objects are shown at 400% of their true area. The projection is conformal, so angular distortion is still zero.

• [areascale,angdef] = distortcalc(60,0)
  areascale =
         3.9965
  angdef =
       0.050518
  

Remarks

This function uses a finite difference technique. The geographic coordinates are perturbed slightly in different directions and projected. A small amount of error is introduced by numerical computation of derivatives and the variation of map distortion parameters.

See Also

mdistort	Contours of constant distortion on a map
tissot	Graphic despiction of distortion characteristics

distance

distdim