Sinusoidal Projection

 

image\sinusoidal.png

World Map

Sinusoidal Projection

Central Longitude: 0

 

Projection Characteristics

The Sinusoidal projection is a pseudo-cylindrical, equal area projection. Scale is accurate along any given parallel and along the specified central longitude. This projection is useful for continental or world maps, particularly for high-aspect regions (regions taller than they are wide). To get good results with the Sinusoidal projection, the map must have coordinates between +/-180 degrees longitude and +/- 90 degrees latitude.

 

Projection Parameters

Parameter

Description

Name

Specifies the units used in the map.

Scale

Specifies the unit scale of the projected map, relative to meters. For example, a scale of one means one unit in the projected map equals one meter; a scale of two means two units in the projected map equal one meter; etc.

False Easting

Specifies the false easting, or horizontal offset, of the projected coordinates, in meters. False Eastings and False Northings are added to the underlying "projected" coordinates as a way to arbitrarily offset their internal XY coordinates after the projection. Unless you have a reason for using these offset values, do not use them. These values do not affect the latitude/longitude coordinates for the map, only the internal coordinates used to plot the map on the screen. If you use False Easting and False Northing offsets for a map, any subsequent boundaries you append to the map must also use these same offsets if you want the imported boundaries to be drawn in the correct relative position to the existing boundaries.

False Northing

Specifies the false northing, or vertical offset, of the projected coordinates, in meters. See above.

Central Longitude

Specifies the central longitude of the projection in degrees. The Central Longitude value typically should be defined as the longitudinal center of the map you are going to produce.

 

 

See Also

Introduction to Map Projections

Geometric Forms of Projection

Characteristics of Projections

Datums

Ellipsoids

Change Projection

Latitude/Longitude Coordinates

Latitude/Longitude in Decimal Degrees

Using Scaling to Minimize Distortion in Latitude/Longitude Projects

Projection References