Minimal working example

Follow the steps below to create your own first paleogeographic map.

Note

You need to know how to use a terminal to follow the instructions below.

Option 1: Python script

• Step 1: use micromamba to create a GPlately environment

  $ micromamba create -n my-gplately-env
  $ micromamba activate my-gplately-env
  $ micromamba install -c conda-forge gplately
  

See also

How to install micromamba?

• Step 2: create a gplately_hello_world.py file and copy & paste the Python code below

  import cartopy.crs as ccrs
  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  
  import gplately
  
  # create a basemap using Mollweide projection
  ax = plt.figure(figsize=(8, 4)).add_subplot(111, projection=ccrs.Mollweide(180))
  
  # get a PlotTopologies object
  gplot = gplately.auxiliary.get_gplot("Muller2019", time=100)
  
  # use the PlotTopologies object to plot a paleo-coastlines map
  gplot.plot_coastlines(ax, color="lightblue",facecolor="0.8")
  
  # add title for the map
  plt.title(f"{int(gplot.time)} Ma")
  
  # save the map to a .png file
  plt.gcf().savefig("gplately-hello-world.png")
  

• Step 3: run the Python file and check the map

  $ python3 gplately_hello_world.py
  

  Open the file gplately-hello-world.png in your current working directory. The paleogeographic map created by the code above shows the coastlines at 100 Million years ago.

  

Option 2: Jupyter Notebook

• Step 1: use micromamba to create a GPlately environment

  $ micromamba create -n my-gplately-env
  $ micromamba activate my-gplately-env
  $ micromamba install -c conda-forge gplately jupyter
  

See also

How to install micromamba?

• Step 2: start a Jupyter Notebook server

  $ jupyter notebook
  

See also

Jupyter Notebook Documentation

• Step 3: create an empty notebook and copy & paste the Python code below

  import cartopy.crs as ccrs
  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  
  import gplately
  
  # create a basemap using Mollweide projection
  ax = plt.figure(figsize=(8, 4)).add_subplot(111, projection=ccrs.Mollweide(180))
  
  # get a PlotTopologies object
  gplot = gplately.auxiliary.get_gplot("Muller2019", time=100)
  
  # use the PlotTopologies object to plot a paleo-coastlines map
  gplot.plot_coastlines(ax, color="lightblue",facecolor="0.8")
  
  # add title for the map
  plt.title(f"{int(gplot.time)} Ma")
  
  # display the map
  plt.show()
  

• Step 4: run the notebook and check the map

  The map will be displayed inline within the Jupyter Notebook’s web interface. The paleogeographic map created by the code above shows the coastlines at 100 Million years ago.

  

See also

• GPlately Hello World Python Script

• GPlately Hello World Jupyter Notebook