Cross Section Plots

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

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import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

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


def main():
    # 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()