#285 Use a background layer

Instead of colouring your map with uniform colors, you can use layer for your background. Here are a few examples showing the layers that are available using python and basemap.

• Bluemarble
• Shaderelief
• Etopo
• Arcgis

• 

  #285 Load a background

  
  from mpl_toolkits.basemap import Basemap
  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  
  m = Basemap(llcrnrlon=-10.5,llcrnrlat=33,urcrnrlon=10.,urcrnrlat=46., resolution='i', projection='cass', lat_0 = 39.5, lon_0 = 0.)
  m.bluemarble()
  plt.show()
  
  

• 

  #285 Load a background

  
  from mpl_toolkits.basemap import Basemap
  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  
  m = Basemap(llcrnrlon=-10.5,llcrnrlat=33,urcrnrlon=10.,urcrnrlat=46., resolution='i', projection='cass', lat_0 = 39.5, lon_0 = 0.)
  m.shadedrelief()
  plt.show()
  
  

• 

  #285 Load a background

  
  m = Basemap(llcrnrlon=-10.5,llcrnrlat=33,urcrnrlon=10.,urcrnrlat=46., resolution='i', projection='cass', lat_0 = 39.5, lon_0 = 0.)
  m.etopo()
  
  

• 

  #285 Load a background

  

  #285 Load a background

  
  

  See help(m.arcgisimage) for more possibilities.

  
  # World Shaded Relief
  m = Basemap(projection='mill',llcrnrlon=-123. ,llcrnrlat=37,urcrnrlon=-121 ,urcrnrlat=39, resolution = 'l', epsg = 4326)
  m.arcgisimage(service='World_Shaded_Relief', xpixels = 1500, verbose= True)
  
  # Ocean Basemap
  m = Basemap(projection='mill',llcrnrlon=-123. ,llcrnrlat=37,urcrnrlon=-121 ,urcrnrlat=39, resolution = 'l', epsg = 4326)
  m.arcgisimage(service='Ocean_Basemap', xpixels = 1500, verbose= True)