On a Lambert conformal conic chart, how are great circles that are not meridians represented?

On a Lambert conformal conic chart, great circles that are not meridians are represented as curves concave to the parallel of origin. This representation arises from the properties of the Lambert conformal conic projection, which is specifically designed for aeronautical charts and mapping regions with a more extensive east-west than north-south orientation.

In this type of projection, the parallels (lines of latitude) are represented as straight lines, while meridians (lines of longitude) converge towards the poles. However, great circles, which represent the shortest distance between two points on the Earth's surface, will generally appear as curves. When the chart is created with a specific parallel of origin, great circles appear concave towards that parallel. This is due to the projection's geometric nature where angles are preserved, but distances and shapes are distorted, especially as you move away from the standard parallels.

The concave appearance indicates the relationship between the great circle route and the projection's design, reflecting how distances are represented on the chart according to the defined origin. This understanding of the Lambert conformal conic projection is crucial for navigation and route planning in aviation, highlighting the importance of accurately interpreting the chart representations.