comp.lang.idl-pvwave archive - RDF feed
type: channel
description: Messages from Usenet group comp.lang.idl-pvwave, compiled by Paulo Penteado
items: Re: contouring data over a map

Re: contouring data over a map
type: item
description: twh18@yahoo.com writes: > I am trying to contour a data set in the form of [lat lon value] onto a > map. I have no problems plotting individual data locations, or > contouring the data set without the map. I have tried to contour the > data set on the map first using the overplot keyword with contour, then > using sph_scat. Both methods fail, saying only "TRIANGULATE: spherical > triangulation failed". > > I can successfully contour a set of 999 randomly generated points onto > my map. When I increase to 1000 random points, it says "TRI-GRID: > points are co-linear, no solution". Increasing to 75000 points (the > size of my data set) returns "TRIANGULATE: spherical triangulation > failed" again. > > There are several posts that hint at similar issues from around ten > years ago, but I hvaen't found anything that talks about my problem > specifically. Is there a (very small) upper limit on the number of > points triangulate can handle? I'm an IDL newby and I would appreciate > any advice very much. This question comes up from time to time, and it almost always involves someone who is letting the CONTOUR command grid their data for them. This approach sounds better in theory then it actually works in practice, I'm afraid. The solution, I think, is to grid the data yourself before you try to contour it. But I don't know for sure. I've never run into this myself. If you would like to send me the data and the code you are currently having trouble with, I'd be happy to see if I can sort it out and write an article about it. Cheers, David -- David Fanning, Ph.D. Fanning Software Consulting, Inc. Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming: http://www.dfanning.com/
creator: David Fanning
date: 2006-06-08T21:51:05-00:00

Re: contouring data over a map
type: item
description: twh18@yahoo.com wrote: > Hello, > > I am trying to contour a data set in the form of [lat lon value] onto a > map. I have no problems plotting individual data locations, or > contouring the data set without the map. I have tried to contour the > data set on the map first using the overplot keyword with contour, then > using sph_scat. Both methods fail, saying only "TRIANGULATE: spherical > triangulation failed". > > I can successfully contour a set of 999 randomly generated points onto > my map. When I increase to 1000 random points, it says "TRI-GRID: > points are co-linear, no solution". Increasing to 75000 points (the > size of my data set) returns "TRIANGULATE: spherical triangulation > failed" again. > > There are several posts that hint at similar issues from around ten > years ago, but I hvaen't found anything that talks about my problem > specifically. Is there a (very small) upper limit on the number of > points triangulate can handle? I'm an IDL newby and I would appreciate > any advice very much. > > Thanks, > Tim Hello Tim: I also found myself overplotting a contoured data set onto a map projection. Mind you, my data set spanned a couple of degrees and I am not sure how wide your data area is (such as the whole sphere). In general, what I have used for small areas is the following procedure for a data set of 10,000 points. Create the following arrays: XVALUES (longitude) YVALUES (latitude) DATA_VALS (corresponding data array for the above locations.) I then rebinned by a factor of 15 (takes a while though), then: (1) Create MAP_SET space to be plotted. (2) Create my own Contour level intervals (3) Overplot using CONTOUR (4) Overplot MAP_GRID, continents, rivers, etc..... Hope it helps.... t.
creator: newbie16
date: 2006-06-09T15:48:51-00:00