def area_def_to_dict(area_def):
    """
    given an area_def, save it as a dictionary`
    
    Parameters
    ----------
    
    area_def: pyresample area_def object
         
    Returns
    -------
    
    out_dict: dict containing
       area_def dictionary
         
    """
    keys = [
        "area_id",
        "proj_id",
        "name",
        "proj_dict",
        "x_size",
        "y_size",
        "area_extent",
    ]
    area_dict = {key: getattr(area_def, key) for key in keys}
    area_dict["proj_id"] = area_dict["area_id"]
    return area_dict