In a Lambert conformal conic projection, what slices the earth at two parallels?

In a Lambert conformal conic projection, the mapping is achieved by projecting the surface of the Earth onto a cone, which is placed over the Earth in a specific orientation. The projection touches the Earth along two standard parallels, known as the parallels of latitude. These parallels are points where the cone intersects the surface of the Earth, allowing for accurate representation of shapes and angles in the area between these two parallels.

The correct answer is one cone because the Lambert conformal conic projection utilizes a single cone that is conceptually "sliced" by the Earth at these two latitude lines. This method ensures minimal distortion in scale along those parallels, which is essential for various surveying and mapping tasks.

In this context, one cone effectively represents how the Earth is projected while maintaining conformal properties, which means that the shapes of small areas are preserved. The projection is particularly useful in regions that are more elongated in the east-west direction. Using two cones or multiple geometric shapes does not pertain to this specific type of projection, which revolves around the concept of a single conically shaped surface utilized for the mapping effort.