Python Matplotlib | Geographic Projections Tutorial

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating geographic projections using Python Matplotlib library. We will go through four possible projections and learn how to create them.

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Skills Graph

%%%%{init: {'theme':'neutral'}}%%%% flowchart RL matplotlib(("`Matplotlib`")) -.-> matplotlib/BasicConceptsGroup(["`Basic Concepts`"]) matplotlib(("`Matplotlib`")) -.-> matplotlib/PlotCustomizationGroup(["`Plot Customization`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/BasicConceptsGroup(["`Basic Concepts`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/DataStructuresGroup(["`Data Structures`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/ModulesandPackagesGroup(["`Modules and Packages`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/DataScienceandMachineLearningGroup(["`Data Science and Machine Learning`"]) matplotlib/BasicConceptsGroup -.-> matplotlib/importing_matplotlib("`Importing Matplotlib`") matplotlib/BasicConceptsGroup -.-> matplotlib/figures_axes("`Understanding Figures and Axes`") matplotlib/PlotCustomizationGroup -.-> matplotlib/grid_config("`Grid Configuration`") python/BasicConceptsGroup -.-> python/booleans("`Booleans`") python/DataStructuresGroup -.-> python/lists("`Lists`") python/DataStructuresGroup -.-> python/tuples("`Tuples`") python/DataStructuresGroup -.-> python/dictionaries("`Dictionaries`") python/ModulesandPackagesGroup -.-> python/importing_modules("`Importing Modules`") python/DataScienceandMachineLearningGroup -.-> python/numerical_computing("`Numerical Computing`") python/DataScienceandMachineLearningGroup -.-> python/data_visualization("`Data Visualization`") python/BasicConceptsGroup -.-> python/python_shell("`Python Shell`") subgraph Lab Skills matplotlib/importing_matplotlib -.-> lab-48752{{"`Create Geographic Projections with Python Matplotlib`"}} matplotlib/figures_axes -.-> lab-48752{{"`Create Geographic Projections with Python Matplotlib`"}} matplotlib/grid_config -.-> lab-48752{{"`Create Geographic Projections with Python Matplotlib`"}} python/booleans -.-> lab-48752{{"`Create Geographic Projections with Python Matplotlib`"}} python/lists -.-> lab-48752{{"`Create Geographic Projections with Python Matplotlib`"}} python/tuples -.-> lab-48752{{"`Create Geographic Projections with Python Matplotlib`"}} python/dictionaries -.-> lab-48752{{"`Create Geographic Projections with Python Matplotlib`"}} python/importing_modules -.-> lab-48752{{"`Create Geographic Projections with Python Matplotlib`"}} python/numerical_computing -.-> lab-48752{{"`Create Geographic Projections with Python Matplotlib`"}} python/data_visualization -.-> lab-48752{{"`Create Geographic Projections with Python Matplotlib`"}} python/python_shell -.-> lab-48752{{"`Create Geographic Projections with Python Matplotlib`"}} end

Import libraries and set up the environment

In this step, we will import the necessary libraries and set up the environment for our tutorial. We will be using Matplotlib and numpy libraries.

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

%matplotlib inline

Create a figure and subplots

In this step, we will create a figure and four subplots for each of the projections we will create. We will use the plt.subplots() method to create a figure and subplots.

fig, axs = plt.subplots(nrows=2, ncols=2, subplot_kw={'projection': 'aitoff'})

Create Aitoff projection

In this step, we will create an Aitoff projection. We will use the axs[0, 0] subplot to create an Aitoff projection.

axs[0, 0].set_title('Aitoff Projection')
axs[0, 0].grid(True)

Create Hammer projection

In this step, we will create a Hammer projection. We will use the axs[0, 1] subplot to create a Hammer projection.

axs[0, 1].set_title('Hammer Projection')
axs[0, 1].grid(True)

Create Lambert projection

In this step, we will create a Lambert projection. We will use the axs[1, 0] subplot to create a Lambert projection.

axs[1, 0].set_title('Lambert Projection')
axs[1, 0].grid(True)

Create Mollweide projection

In this step, we will create a Mollweide projection. We will use the axs[1, 1] subplot to create a Mollweide projection.

axs[1, 1].set_title('Mollweide Projection')
axs[1, 1].grid(True)

Display the plot

In this step, we will display the plot using the plt.show() method.

plt.show()

Summary

In this tutorial, we have learned how to create four different geographic projections using Python Matplotlib library. We have learned how to create an Aitoff projection, a Hammer projection, a Lambert projection, and a Mollweide projection. We hope this tutorial has been helpful to you and will inspire you to create your own geographic projections.

Create Geographic Projections with Python Matplotlib