Polyconic is a term that refers to a certain type of map projection. It is pronounced /ˌpɑːliˈkɒnɪk/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The spelling is made up of two parts: "poly" meaning "many", and "conic" meaning "cone-shaped". The projection itself is created by placing a cone over a sphere to create a series of small, overlapping circles that are used to project the map. The resulting map shows distorted shapes and sizes but has the advantage of showing areas that are closer to the poles more accurately than other projections.
Polyconic refers to a type of map projection that utilises a series of conic projections stitched together to create an accurate representation of the Earth's surface. The term "polyconic" is derived from the Greek words "poly," meaning many, and "conic," referring to a cone-shaped projection. It is predominantly used for mapping regions that extend across a large range of latitudes but have a relatively small longitudinal extent.
The polyconic projection is designed to minimize distortion along both the meridians and parallels. Unlike other map projections that tend to distort either the shape or size of landforms, the polyconic projection strikes a balance between accuracy and distortion, particularly in areas near the central meridian. This makes it particularly suitable for mapping regions such as large countries or continents, as it preserves the shape and size of landforms reasonably well across a wide range of latitudes.
In a polyconic projection, each section or zone is projected individually onto a cone tangent to the Earth's surface along a specific latitude line. These cones are then unrolled onto a flat surface, resulting in a series of conic projections stitched together. The polyconic projection is characterized by curved meridians and straight, parallel lines that converge towards the poles. This type of projection is used in various cartographic applications such as topographic mapping and spatial analysis, providing a relatively accurate representation of the Earth's surface across a vast area.
The word "Polyconic" can be broken down into two parts: "poly-" and "conic".
The prefix "poly-" is derived from the Greek word "polus", meaning "many" or "multiple". It is commonly used to indicate the presence of many or various elements.
The word "conic" is derived from the Latin term "conicus", which comes from the Greek word "kōnikos". It refers to anything related to a cone, a three-dimensional geometric shape with a circular base tapering to a point.
Therefore, the term "polyconic" is formed by combining the prefix "poly-" and "conic". It suggests something that has multiple or several conical shapes, or a conic shape that is made up of various elements or components.