<p>The context I often see the u,v,w components shown in one plot are forward and backward trajectory plots like those from the <a href="http://www.intechopen.com/source/html/41274/media/image17.jpeg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">NOAA HYSPLIT Model</a>, which provides separate panels for horizontal and vertical movement.  There is also 3-D imagery like what's available from UCAR in the <a href="http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/idv/docs/workshop/datadisplays/wrf/InteractiveWRFGridDisplays.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">cross sections</a> examples for WRF, shown below.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/kK21x.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/kK21x.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-13T08:25:10.683Z
The rainbow colour scheme makes me cringe
Gimelist
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-17T02:26:18.350Z
2016-10-18T01:38:06.890Z
2016-10-18T01:38:06.890Z
f.thorpe
<p>Try quiver3 function in Matlab. For example, this is the example in Matlab's website for this function:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/7v79p.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7v79p.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-13T05:22:28.237Z
2017-03-13T05:22:28.237Z
Ozcan
<p>How about using the same 2D wind rose plot for an additional figure, but color it with respect to velocity in the vertical? So you will have two of the similar looking wind rose plots, they will both show the directions in the horizontal 2D, but the second plot will have a colorbar that ranges ,say, from -1 m/s to 1m/s. I think that would be a very useful plot. </p>

<p>You will need to store the indices used in the calculation of the horizontal directions and calculate the histogram for the vertical flow that corresponds to them. Or just keep the part of the code where horizontal directions are calculated but use the vertical velocity to calculate the magnitude. Keep the sign to indicate upward/downward.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-14T21:40:14.680Z
2016-10-14T21:40:14.680Z
ZZZ
<p>How can I plot the wind direction in 3D, using the 3 wind vectors <code>u</code>, <code>v</code> and <code>w</code>?
Normally, I create <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wind_rose_plot.jpg" rel="nofollow">2D wind rose plots in the traditional way</a>, using R or MATLAB. </p>

<p>Which ways do you know for plotting this in 3D, using the additional <code>w</code> vector?<br />Do you have code examples or tips for packages?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-25T01:19:33.990Z
A relevant observation is that with the exception of thunderclouds, winds are almost exclusively horizontal. This is certainly entirely true for anything close to the ground. In those cases, you may simply not have to worry about the vertical component.
Wolfgang Bangerth
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-30T00:37:14.653Z
In polar and/or alpine environments, there are some local wind systems with important vertical components, such as the katabatic winds in the Antarctic.
Arne
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-21T01:26:25.077Z
it's really depend of OP's context: subsidience, thermals / thunderstorm  / tropical storms, frontology, orography, all needs the vertical component :-)
Fabrice NEYRET
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-12T16:24:57.210Z
How about a vector field plot? https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7130474/3d-vector-field-in-matplotlib
Michael Wallace
<wind><visualization>
Plotting the wind direction in 3D?
Arne
# Plotting the wind direction in 3D?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-21)

How can I plot the wind direction in 3D, using the 3 wind vectors `u`, `v` and `w`?
Normally, I create [2D wind rose plots in the traditional way](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wind_rose_plot.jpg), using R or MATLAB.

Which ways do you know for plotting this in 3D, using the additional `w` vector?  
Do you have code examples or tips for packages?

**Tags:** wind, visualization

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: A relevant observation is that with the exception of thunderclouds, winds are almost exclusively horizontal. This is certainly entirely true for anything close to the ground. In those cases, you may simply not have to worry about the vertical component.  
> **username_0**: In polar and/or alpine environments, there are some local wind systems with important vertical components, such as the katabatic winds in the Antarctic.  
> **username_2**: it's really depend of OP's context: subsidience, thermals / thunderstorm  / tropical storms, frontology, orography, all needs the vertical component :-)  
> **username_3**: How about a vector field plot? https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7130474/3d-vector-field-in-matplotlib  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-10-17. Score: 6

The context I often see the u,v,w components shown in one plot are forward and backward trajectory plots like those from the [NOAA HYSPLIT Model](http://www.intechopen.com/source/html/41274/media/image17.jpeg), which provides separate panels for horizontal and vertical movement. There is also 3-D imagery like what's available from UCAR in the [cross sections](http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/idv/docs/workshop/datadisplays/wrf/InteractiveWRFGridDisplays.html) examples for WRF, shown below.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/kK21x.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/kK21x.png)

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: The rainbow colour scheme makes me cringe  

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### Answer by username_6 on 2017-03-13. Score: 5

Try quiver3 function in Matlab. For example, this is the example in Matlab's website for this function:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/7v79p.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/7v79p.png)


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### Answer by username_7 on 2016-10-14. Score: 1

How about using the same 2D wind rose plot for an additional figure, but color it with respect to velocity in the vertical? So you will have two of the similar looking wind rose plots, they will both show the directions in the horizontal 2D, but the second plot will have a colorbar that ranges ,say, from -1 m/s to 1m/s. I think that would be a very useful plot.

You will need to store the indices used in the calculation of the horizontal directions and calculate the histogram for the vertical flow that corresponds to them. Or just keep the part of the code where horizontal directions are calculated but use the vertical velocity to calculate the magnitude. Keep the sign to indicate upward/downward.


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