Why do Lambert charts need mathematical processing?

Lambert charts are a class of map projections that attempt to represent the surface of the Earth on a flat plane. One of the defining characteristics of a Lambert chart, particularly the Lambert Conformal Conic Projection, is its conformality. This means that angles are preserved, allowing for accurate representation of shapes, which is crucial for navigation and aviation.

Mathematical processing is required to achieve this conformality because the Earth is a three-dimensional object, and projecting it onto a two-dimensional surface cannot be done without adjustments. These adjustments ensure that the scale of the chart varies in a calculated manner to maintain accurate angles between intersecting lines, while allowing for a specific region (the standard parallels) to maintain true scale.

By using mathematical formulas in the projection process, the Lambert charts can be designed to display shapes accurately over the areas of interest, which is essential for pilots and navigators who rely on these charts for precise course plotting. This processing is vital not only for maintaining the integrity of the shapes but also for usability in real-world navigation scenarios.

In contrast, other factors like the scale on the whole chart, the specific features of the standard parallels, and the representation of rhumb lines, although relevant in the context of map projections, do not