Contour labels

An example of adding contour labels to matplotlib contours.

import cartopy.crs as ccrs
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

from waves import sample_data


def main():
    fig = plt.figure()

    # Setup a global EckertIII map with faint coastlines.
    ax = fig.add_subplot(1, 1, 1, projection=ccrs.EckertIII())
    ax.set_global()
    ax.coastlines('110m', alpha=0.1)

    # Use the waves example to provide some sample data, but make it
    # more dependent on y for more interesting contours.
    x, y, z = sample_data((20, 40))
    z = z * -1.5 * y

    # Add colourful filled contours.
    filled_c = ax.contourf(x, y, z, transform=ccrs.PlateCarree())

    # And black line contours.
    line_c = ax.contour(x, y, z, levels=filled_c.levels,
                        colors=['black'],
                        transform=ccrs.PlateCarree())

    # Uncomment to make the line contours invisible.
    # plt.setp(line_c.collections, visible=False)

    # Add a colorbar for the filled contour.
    fig.colorbar(filled_c, orientation='horizontal')

    # Use the line contours to place contour labels.
    ax.clabel(
        line_c,  # Typically best results when labelling line contours.
        colors=['black'],
        manual=False,  # Automatic placement vs manual placement.
        inline=True,  # Cut the line where the label will be placed.
        fmt=' {:.0f} '.format,  # Labes as integers, with some extra space.
    )

    plt.show()


if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

Tissot’s Indicatrix Contour transform options