Which of the following characteristics is true of the Lambert Conformal conic projection?

• A. Within 2 standard parallels, all directions are approximately true
• B. It preserves areas exactly
• C. It maps great circles as straight lines everywhere
• D. It has no distortion along the equator

Answer: (A)

Lambert Conformal Conic is a conformal projection that uses two standard parallels. Being conformal means angles are preserved locally, so small shapes and directions stay faithful in the map. The scale is made true along those two standard parallels, which minimizes distortion in the belt between them. Because of this setup, directions are effectively accurate within that band, making the statement about directions being true there the best description.

It doesn’t preserve areas exactly, so it’s not an equal-area projection. Great circles aren’t mapped to straight lines everywhere (that property belongs to other projections like the gnomonic). Distortion exists and varies outside the region between the standard parallels, and there isn’t a blanket guarantee of no distortion along the equator.