1097-0088/asset/JOC_centre.gif?v=1&s=392766b4fccfb001371ef9b7a825690a48ffca93)
1097-0088/asset/JOC_right.gif?v=1&s=0dac9618b2b4992612d732ba56fc6b92cb55979a)
Short communication
Bivariate colour maps for visualizing climate data
Article first published online: 30 APR 2010
DOI: 10.1002/joc.2153
Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Additional Information
How to Cite
Teuling, A. J., Stöckli, R. and Seneviratne, S. I. (2011), Bivariate colour maps for visualizing climate data. Int. J. Climatol., 31: 1408–1412. doi: 10.1002/joc.2153
Publication History
- Issue published online: 21 JUN 2011
- Article first published online: 30 APR 2010
- Manuscript Accepted: 19 MAR 2010
- Manuscript Revised: 27 NOV 2009
- Manuscript Received: 11 AUG 2009
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- mapping;
- climate zones;
- climate change
Abstract
The increasing availability of gridded, high-resolution, multivariate climatological data sets calls for innovative approaches to visualize inter-variable relations. In this study, we present a methodology, based on properties of common colour schemes, to plot two variables in a single colour map by using a two-dimensional colour legend for both sequential and diverging data. This is especially suited for climate data as the spatial distribution of the relation between different variables is often as important as the distribution of variables individually. Two example applications are given to illustrate the use of the method: one that shows the global distribution of climate based on observed temperature and relative humidity, and the other showing the distribution of recent changes in observed temperature and precipitation over Europe. A flexible and easy-to-implement method is provided to construct different colour legends for sequential and diverging data. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society