Plotting spatial data in a global map

Hello,

I have a dataset of 555x3 Lat, Lon, and Biomass

The latitude and longitude are not evenly spaced and random

I would like to know how I can visualize on a map where the data falls on a global map with continents outlined. I don't want to see the value of the biomass, rather I would like to just see where on a global map I have data at in order to visualize the spatial expanse of my dataset.

I'm having trouble finding a matlab command that can easily accomplish this. Does anyone know what command meets my needs?

Thank you

Answer 1

[Chad Greene]

We'll call your data matrix data. Then

lat = data(:,1); 
lon = data(:,2); 
plot(lon,lat,'bp') 
xlabel('longitude') 
ylabel('latitude')

will put a blue star at every data point.

[Melissa]

Thank you Chad,

Is there a way that I could see it spread out across a global map with continents?

[Chad Greene]

Do you have the Mapping Toolbox? If yes, use worldmap to initialize a map, choose your method of plotting a coast, then use plotm(lat,lon,'bp') to plot blue stars at all your data points. If you do not have the mapping toolbox, M_Map works just as well.