cdtgrid documentation

The cdtgrid function uses meshgrid to easily create a global grid of latitudes and longitudes.

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Contents

Syntax

[lat,lon] = cdtgrid
[lat,lon] = cdtgrid(res)
[lat,lon] = cdtgrid([latres lonres])
[lat,lon] = cdtgrid(...,centerLon)

Description

[lat,lon] = cdtgrid generates a meshgrid-style global grid of latitude and longitude values at a resolution of 1 degree. Postings are centered in the middle of grid cells, so a 1 degree resolution grid will have latitude values of 89.5, 88.5, 87.5, etc.

[lat,lon] = cdtgrid(res) specifies grid resolution res, where res is a scalar and specifies degrees. Default res is 1.

[lat,lon] = cdtgrid([latres lonres]) if res is a two-element array, the first element specifies latitude resolution and the second element specifies longitude resolution.

[lat,lon] = cdtgrid(...,centerLon) centers the grid on longitude value centerLon. Default centerLon is the Prime Meridian (0 degrees).

Example 1: Real simple

Here's a 1-degree global grid:

[lat,lon] = cdtgrid;

plot(lon,lat,'b.')
xlabel('longitude')
ylabel('latitude')

Above, it looks like a big blue rectangle, but zoom in and you'll see that it's actually 180 * 360 = 64,800 blue dots.

Example 2: More complicated

Now overlay a grid that has 10 degree latitude resolution and 15 degree longitude resolution, centered on 180°E. Plot the new grid as red circles to distinguish them from the blue dots:

[lat2,lon2] = cdtgrid([10 15],180);

hold on
plot(lon2,lat2,'ro')

The two grids do not line up with each other because we intentionally ensured that the second grid would be centered on 180°E. Use the recenter function to move them back over if you'd like:

[lat2_rc,lon2_rc] = recenter(lat2,lon2);

plot(lon2_rc,lat2_rc,'kx')

Author Info

The cdtgrid function and supporting documentation were written by Chad A. Greene of the University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Geophysics (UTIG), February 2017.