Mapping Toolbox™

vinvtran - Azimuth on ellipsoid from direction angle in map plane

Syntax

az = vinvtran(x,y,th) az = vinvtran(mstruct,x,y,th) [az,len] = vinvtran(...)

az = vinvtran(x,y,th) transforms an angle in the projection space at the point specified by x and y into an azimuth angle in geographic coordinates. The map projection currently displayed is used to define the projection space. The input angles must be in the same units as specified by the current map projection. The inputs can be scalars or matrices of equal size. The angle in the projection space angle th is defined as positive counterclockwise from the x-axis.

az = vinvtran(mstruct,x,y,th) uses the map projection defined by the input struct to compute the map projection.

[az,len] = vinvtran(...) also returns the vector length in the geographic coordinate system. A value of 1 indicates no scale distortion for that angle.

Background

While vectors along the y-axis always point to north in a cylindrical projection in the normal aspect, they can point east or west of north on conics, azimuthals, and other projections. This function computes the geographic azimuth for angles in the projected space.

Examples

Sample calculations:

axesm('eqdconic','maplatlim',[-10 45],'maplonlim',[-55 55])
gridm; framem; mlabel; plabel
[x,y] = mfwdtran([0 0 0],[-45 0 45]);
quiver(x,y,[ .2 .2 .2],[0 0 0],0)
quiver(x,y,[0 0 0],[ .2 .2 .2],0)

vinvtran(x,y,[ 0 0 0])

ans =
       57.345       90.338       124.98

vinvtran(x,y,[ 90 90 90])

ans =
       331.99            0       28.008

Limitations

This transformation is limited to the region specified by the frame limits in the current map definition.

Remarks

The geographic azimuth angle is measured clockwise from north. The projection space angle is measured counterclockwise from the x-axis.