ENROUTE AVIATION

CHAPTER 11C: POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC PRABHAKAR T P

CONTENT
• POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC
• PROPERTIES OF POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC
• GREAT CIRCLES AND RHUMB LINES IN POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC
• SUMMARY
• CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC
• Polar stereographic charts are used to map
the polar regions.
• A flat surface is used, touching a pole say NP
in the figure (Point of tangency).
• Light source is kept at the opposite pole,
creating a graticule by geometric projections.
• Polar stereographic projection is the only
perspective projection among the three
discussed.
PROPERTIES OF POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC CHARTS
GRATICULE
• Meridians are straight lines, radiating from
the Pole.
• The parallels are concentric circles.
However, they are not evenly spaced. Their
spacing depends on the scale expansion.
SCALE
• Scale expands away from the poles.
• Scale is correct at the pole where the paper
touched the ED.

Scale at any latitude = Scale at pole X SEC2(1/2 Co-latitude)

More about scale
Q) If the scale at the pole is 1/ 1 000 000 , find the scale at
a) 78°?
b) 70°?
• To summarize:
Between latitudes 90° and 78° - Scale within 1% of scale at Pole.
Between latitude 78° and 70° - Scale between 1% and 3%.
• This constancy makes Polar stereographic projection an almost ideal map for flying in
polar regions.
• Page 368 example first paragraph.
PROPERTIES OF POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC CHARTS
ORTHOMORPHISM
• Because of the graticule and the scale expanding at a constant rate in any direction.
Polar stereographic charts are orthomorphic.

SHAPES
• Because scale expands, shapes and areas will be distorted away from the poles.
CHART CONVERGENCY
• The meridians converge ‘at the pole’ at exactly same rate as they do on the Earths
surface.
• The convergency however is correct only at the poles and remains constant throughout
the chart.
CHART CONVERGENCY = CH LONGITUDE
SIN 90 = 1
PROPERTIES OF POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC CHARTS

RHUMB LINES AND GREAT CIRCLES

• As with the Lambert’s Chart, The
Rhumb Line has the greatest
curvature.
• Rhumb lines are always concave to
the Pole of projection.
• As with the Lambert’s Chart, Great
circles are also concave to the Parallel
of origin, it is just that here the
parallel of origin is the Pole.
STRAIGHT LINE VS GREAT CIRCLE
• Angle between straight line and the Rhumb line and
Rhumb line is half Chart convergency.
• Angle between the Great circle and Rhumb line is
Half Earth convergency (CA).
At 50°N, Change in longitude as per fig is 90°
Chart CA = 90/2 = 45°
Earth CA = 0.5X90X0.766=34.5°
Difference is 10.5°, This is a large difference hence we
cannot approximate GC as straight line at this latitude.
• However as latitude increases, the difference gets
smaller (at 70° N it is 2.7°) ,
• Therefore, GC maybe approximated as straight lines
above 70°.
 SUMMARY POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC
PROPERTY REMARK
Correct at the Pole.
SCALE Elsewhere expands as SEC2(0.5 X CO –LATITUDE)
Within 1% from Latitude 90° to 78°
Within 3% from latitude 78° to 70°
ORTHOMORPHIC Yes
GRATICULE Meridians are straight lines radiation from the Poles
Parallels are concentric circles drawn from the Poles
SHAPES Become more distorted as distance increases from the Poles
Correct at the Pole
CHART Constant across the chart
CONVERGENCY Convergency= Change of longitude
Convergency factor ‘n’ =1
RHUMB LINES Curves concave to the Pole of Projection
Curves concave to the Pole of projection, But with less
GREAT CIRCLES curvature than Rhumb line in the same hemisphere.
Can be taken as straight lines at latitudes greater than 70°
CHART SYMBOLS
Page 228
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
1. The nominal scale of a Lambert conformal conic chart is the?
a) Scale at the standard parallels.
b) Scale at the Equator.
c) Scale at the midway point between the two standard parallels.
d) Everywhere on the chart.
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
2) The chart that is generally used for navigation in polar areas is based on a?
A. Lambert's Conformal
B. Transverse Mercator
C. Stereographical projection
D. Direct Mercator
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
3) On a Lambert conformal conic chart the convergence of the meridians is?
A. The same as earth convergency at the parallel of origin
B. The same as the scale.
C. Most accurate at the standard parallels.
D. Least accurate at the parallel of origin.
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
4) On a Direct Mercator chart, a rhumb line appears as a?
A. Curve concave to the nearest poles
B. Curve convex to the nearest pole
C. Straight line
D. Curve convex to the equator
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
5) On a Lambert conformal conic projection, with two standard parallels the scale is?
A. Correct only along the parallel of origin
B. Correct only at the poles
C. Correct only along the standard parallels
D. Correct at all points on the chart
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
6) A Lambert conformal conic chart, with two standard parallels, the quoted scale is
correct?
A. Midway between the two standard parallels
B. Only along the two standard parallels
C. Only at the parallel of origin
D. Only at the center of the chart
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
7) On a Direct Mercator chart a great circle will be represented by a?
A. Straight lines
B. Curves convex to the equator
C. Curve concave to the equator
D. Curves concave to the nearest pole.
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
8) On a Lambert Conformal Conic chart earth convergency is most accurately represented
at the?
A. Standard parallels
B. Outside the standard parallels
C. At all points between the standard parallels
D. Parallel of origin.
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
9) On a Transverse Mercator chart, scale is exactly correct along the?
A. Meridian of tangency
B. Prime meridian
C. Standard latitudes
D. Latitude of origin.
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
10) The angular difference, on a Lambert conformal conic chart, between the arrival and
departure track is equal to?
A. Departure angle
B. Map convergence
C. Secant of 1/2 latitude
D. Secant of longitude.
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
11) Parallels of latitude, except the equator, are?
A. Rhumb lines
B. Great circles
C. Curves convex to the nearest pole
D. Curves concave to the nearest pole
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
12) On a Direct Mercator chart, meridians are?
A. Parallel, equally spaced, horizontal straight lines
B. Converging curved lines
C. Parallel, equally spaced, vertical straight lines
D. Diverging curved lines
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
13) On which of the following chart projections is it not possible to represent the north or
south poles?
A. Polar Stereographic
B. Transverse Mercator
C. Lambert's Conical
D. Direct Mercator
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
14) Which one of the following, concerning great circles on a Direct Mercator chart, is
correct?
A. With the exception of meridians and the equator, they are curves concave to the
equator.
B. Straight lines.
C. Curves concave to the nearest pole
D. With the exception of meridians and the equator, as curves convex to the equator.
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
15) On a Lambert conformal conic chart, the distance between parallels of latitude
spaced the same number of degrees apart?
A. Increases between and reduces outside of the standard parallels
B. Reduces between, and expands outside the standard parallels
C. Constant between the standard parallels
D. Is constant outside of the standard parallels
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
16) Which one of following statements is correct concerning the appearance of great
circle with the exception of meridians, on a Polar Stereographic chart whose tangency is
at the pole?
A. The higher the latitude the closer they approximate to a straight line
B. The lower the latitude the closer they approximate to straight lines
C. Never approximate to straight lines
D. Always approximate to straight lines
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
17) Which one of the following describes the appearance of rhumb lines, except
meridians, on a Polar Stereographic chart?
A. Straight lines
B. Curves concave to the Pole.
C. Approximately straight lines.
D. Curves closer to the pole than the equivalent Great Circle.
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
18) What is the value of the convergence factor on a Polar Stereographic chart?
A. 2.0
B. 1.5
C. 1.0
D. 0.5
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
19) On a Direct Mercator, rhumb lines are?
A. Straight lines
B. Curves concave to the nearest pole
C. Curves convex to the nearest pole
D. Curves concave to the Equator
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
20) A perfectly straight line on Lamberts chart is?
A. Parallel of latitude
B. A rhumb line
C. A meridian of longitude
D. A great circle.
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
21) Which of the following statements best describes how scale varies on a Mercator
chart?
A. It is correct on the standard parallels, but expands outside them, and contracts
within them
B. Expands as the secant of the East/West great circle distance
C. Expands as the secant (1/2Xco-latítade)
D. Expands directly with the secant of the latitude
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
22) How do Rhumb lines (other than meridians), appear on Polar Stereographic charts?
A. As straight lines
B. As lines concave to the nearer pole
C. As lines convex to the nearer pole
D. As ellipses around the pole
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
23) Where is the convergency correct on a Transverse Mercator Chart?
A. At the datum meridian and the Equator
B. Only at the Equator and Poles
C. Only at the datum meridian
D. At the Parallel of Origin.
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
24) In which of the following projections will a plane surface touch the reduced Earth at
one of the Poles?
A. Lambert’s
B. Direct Mercator
C. Transverse Mercator
D. Stereographic
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
25) How are great circles shown on a direct Mercator chart?
A. Curves concave to the nearest pole
B. Curves convex to the nearest pole
C. Straight lines
D. Rhumb lines
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
26) The scale on a Lambert's conformal conic chart?
A. Is constant
B. Is constant along a parallel of latitude
C. Is constant along a meridian of longitude
D. Varies slightly as a function of longitude and latitude
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
27) The scale is correct on a Transverse Mercator chart?
A. Along the datum meridian and meridians at 90° to it
B. At the prime meridian
C. Along the great circle of tangency
D. At the poles and the equator
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
28) What is the symbol for an FIR boundary?
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
29) How is an uncontrolled route marked on an aeronautical chart?
CHART THEORY QUESTIONS
30. What is the symbol for a Control Zone (CTR) on an aeronautical chart?
END OF CHAPTER 11 C
READY FOR QP 06