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