Re: [Matplotlib-users] Basemap: how to fill continents and then contourf over filled continents?

[Jeff W. <js...@fa...>]

Simon Kammerer wrote:
> Hi list,
>
> is there a way to fill continents with basemap an then use contourf to 
> draw filled contours over the continents?
>
> Its useless when the filled contours cover the whole map, but when only 
> parts of the map are covered with filled contours, it would be nice to 
> paint over the continents (but still let the coastlines and countries 
> shine through the filled contours).
>
> Thanks for any hints
> Simon
>
> -

Simon:  I just added a zorder keyword to fillcontinents in basemap SVN:

--- basemap.py  (revision 3192)
+++ basemap.py  (working copy)
@@ -1299,7 +1299,7 @@
         # set axes limits to fit map region.
         self.set_axes_limits(ax=ax)
 
-    def fillcontinents(self,color='0.8',ax=None):
+    def fillcontinents(self,color='0.8',ax=None,zorder=1):
         """
  Fill continents.
 
@@ -1342,9 +1342,9 @@
             if not hasp1 or not hasp2 or not hasp3 or not hasp4:
                 xy = zip(xa.tolist(),ya.tolist())
                 if self.coastpolygontypes[np] != 2:
-                    poly = 
Polygon(xy,facecolor=color,edgecolor=color,linewidth=0)
+                    poly = 
Polygon(xy,facecolor=color,edgecolor=color,linewidth=0,zorder=zorder)
                 else: # lakes filled with background color.
-                    poly = 
Polygon(xy,facecolor=axisbgc,edgecolor=axisbgc,linewidth=0)
+                    poly = 
Polygon(xy,facecolor=axisbgc,edgecolor=axisbgc,linewidth=0,zorder=zorder)
                 ax.add_patch(poly)
             np = np + 1


You can now set zorder=0 if you want contourf to paint over the filled 
continents.

-Jeff

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