What is a key characteristic of the Lambert conformal conic projection?

The Lambert conformal conic projection is designed primarily for mapping regions that are elongated in an east-west direction, such as the continental United States. One of its key characteristics is that it preserves angles, making it a conformal projection. This quality is particularly useful for navigation and meteorology, where angle preservation is critical for accurate path plotting and angular measurements. However, while angles are maintained, the projection distorts areas, especially away from the standard parallels where the projection is most accurate.

This distinction is crucial for understanding why the Lambert conformal conic projection is favored in certain applications but not necessarily in those where area representation is critical, as the projection does not maintain true area measurements. This characteristic contrasts with projections designed to preserve area, which may distort angles instead. Hence, it is essential to consider the context of the usage of the Lambert conformal conic projection and to identify it as a conformal projection that provides angle preservation with some area distortion.