maps and graphs with GMT

The Generic Mapping Tools, known as GMT, is a software package widely used in geophysics to create and customize high-quality, professional-looking maps and graphs in various projections. GMT is particularly powerful in that its programs can be called from shell-scripts or compiled executables. The class material below was developed in 2004 (yes!)  for an early version of GMT. The newer versions of GMT are, for the most, still compatible with that older syntax.

The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the use of GMT, in particular help them overcome the fear that the powerful, yet a bit abstruse, GMT syntax may inspire. The course is divided in 7 sessions:

• Session 1: getting around in unix/linux, pscoast: a basic GMT command [pdf]

• Session 2: colors, pen attributes, and text [pdf]

• Session 3: map projections [pdf]

• Session 4: plotting symbols, lines, and polygons on a map [pdf]

• Session 5: non-geographic plots [pdf]

• Session 6: plotting griddded data sets [pdf]

• Session 7: writing command-line scripts [pdf]

GMT is developed by Paul Wessel (University of Hawaii at Manoa) and Walter H. F. Smith (Geoscience Laboratory, NOAA). More information, examples, cook-book, and on-line manual are at https://docs.generic-mapping-tools.org/dev/index.html.