Cross section plots

This example demonstrates contour plots of a cross-sectioned multi-dimensional cube which features a hybrid height vertical coordinate system.

"""
Cross section plots
===================

This example demonstrates contour plots of a cross-sectioned multi-dimensional
cube which features a hybrid height vertical coordinate system.

"""

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

import iris
import iris.plot as iplt
import iris.quickplot as qplt


def main():
    # Enable a future option, to ensure that the netcdf load works the same way
    # as in future Iris versions.
    iris.FUTURE.netcdf_promote = True

    # Load some test data.
    fname = iris.sample_data_path('hybrid_height.nc')
    theta = iris.load_cube(fname, 'air_potential_temperature')

    # Extract a single height vs longitude cross-section. N.B. This could
    # easily be changed to extract a specific slice, or even to loop over *all*
    # cross section slices.
    cross_section = next(theta.slices(['grid_longitude',
                                       'model_level_number']))

    qplt.contourf(cross_section, coords=['grid_longitude', 'altitude'],
                  cmap='RdBu_r')
    iplt.show()

    # Now do the equivalent plot, only against model level
    plt.figure()

    qplt.contourf(cross_section,
                  coords=['grid_longitude', 'model_level_number'],
                  cmap='RdBu_r')
    iplt.show()


if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

(Source code)

(png)

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