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EPSG:5070 — NAD83 / Conus Albers

NAD83 / Conus Albers — the equal-area projection used for nationwide thematic and analytical mapping of the contiguous United States.

Code
EPSG:5070
Type
Projected
Area
USA - CONUS - onshore

PROJ definition

+proj=aea +lat_0=23 +lon_0=-96 +lat_1=29.5 +lat_2=45.5 +x_0=0 +y_0=0 +ellps=GRS80 +towgs84=0,0,0,0,0,0,0 +units=m +no_defs +type=crs

Geographic bounds

W -124.79°   S 24.41°   E -66.91°   N 49.38°

Convert coordinates with EPSG:5070

About EPSG:5070

EPSG:5070 is the Albers Equal Area Conic projection on the NAD83 datum, parameters tuned for the conterminous USA: latitude of origin 23°N, central meridian 96°W, two standard parallels at 29.5°N and 45.5°N. It is the de-facto standard for any nationwide CONUS dataset where the analysis is area- or density-based — Census, USGS NLCD land cover, USDA NASS Cropland Data Layer, BLM datasets, and most academic analyses.

As an equal-area projection it preserves area exactly, at the cost of distorting shape (elongating Florida and Maine slightly). Distance and direction are not preserved either; for those use UTM zones or a conformal projection.

Common use cases

  • USGS NLCD land cover analysis
  • USDA NASS Cropland Data Layer
  • Census tract/block analysis at national scale
  • Any CONUS-wide thematic map needing accurate areas

Common transformations from EPSG:5070

Frequently asked questions

Why use Albers Equal Area for CONUS data?
Equal-area preservation is essential for thematic analysis (population density, land-cover proportions, ecology). Web Mercator and Lambert Conformal Conic distort area and would produce misleading proportions.
What is the proj4 string for EPSG:5070?
The proj4 definition for EPSG:5070 is: +proj=aea +lat_0=23 +lon_0=-96 +lat_1=29.5 +lat_2=45.5 +x_0=0 +y_0=0 +ellps=GRS80 +towgs84=0,0,0,0,0,0,0 +units=m +no_defs +type=crs
Where is EPSG:5070 used?
EPSG:5070 (NAD83 / Conus Albers) is defined for the area: USA - CONUS - onshore.