DECODR will generate both vertical and horizontal plots automatically if plot csvs are available. DECODR sends Surfer basic commands, modifying a base template for each parameter. These instructions will outline the steps to create a horizontal and vertical plot using Surfer interactively.

Horizontals

  1. Start Surfer and load the template for your data type (Temperature, Salinity, etc). They are found in the Q:\CODES\map_masters\ subdir: Horiz_66_T.srf is the temperature template for the southern station pattern (ie 66 sta pattern); Horiz_66_Sig = Sigma-theta; Horiz_66_Chl = chl; Horiz_66_O2 = oxygen; Horiz_66_S = salinity.
  2. To generate a contour map, the first step is to grid the data so select the appropriate data csv from the \CODES\YYMM\maps\ subdir.
    • For 10m Temperature, select YYMM_010mS.csv where YYMM is the cruise designation (ie 1210_010mS.csv). This csv contains all the 10m data for horizontal plots. From the Surfer menu select 'GRID/Data", find and select YYMM_010mS.csv. (Note: the letter after the depth '010m' denotes the data source - "S" = sta.csv, "D" = data report, "I" = IEH, "O" = out, "R" = hydro rpt.)
    • Configure the X, Y, Z parameters: X = DLon, Y = DLat, Z = T.  Note: Z can be other parameters but be sure to use the proper template (Horiz_66_???.srf).
    • 'Gridding method' = Kriging; to give horizontals a slight NW to SE influence, click 'Advanced Options' then Edit; select 'Linear' then set 'Ratio' = 1.5 and 'Angle' = -45. Click [Ok]; 'Kriging type' = Point & 'Drift type' = none (default settings) are fine so click [Ok].
    • If you want Surfer to generate a report that shows the data ranges leave the 'Grid Report' box checked, otherwise uncheck 'Grid Report'.
    • The output file is named after the input file but with a .grd extension so add the datatype to the filename ie YYMM_010mST.grd for temperature.
    • Click [OK] to generate the .grd gridded data file.
  3. Blank the gridded data. You can contour the .grd file as-is but the contours will extend beyond a reasonable distance from station transects. So to "blank" outside the pattern, select 'GRID/Blank' from the Surfer menu:
    • Select the .grd file you created in step 2, YYMM_010mST.grd
    • Next select the boundary file (.bln) from the CODES\map_masters\blank\ subdir that matches the contour area. This is usually lines93-77.bln so select it and click [Open].
    • Name your output file - it should go into the maps dir where the .grd file is located so navigate back there; select the original .grd file then add a "B" in front of the '.grd' so you end up with YYMM_010mSTB.grd. This is the blanked, gridded data file ready to contour.
  4. There are two ways to generate a contour - new and replace - replace is the easiest unless you need, for some reason, to generate a new one or are starting from scratch.
    • Since we started with a template file, let's save it as a new file to preserve the original. In the Surfer menu, select 'File/Save As', navigate to your working 'maps' subdir and give it an appropriate filename such as YYMM_010mSTB.srf
    • Next, on the left margin of Surfer are the plot parameters; right-click on 'Contour' and select 'Properties'. You will see the original template datafile and settings.
    • Left-click the small folder icon next to the data filename and select your .grd file, YYMM_010mSTB.grd then click [Apply]. This will replace the data contour with new data so you should see the contours change. If you want to adjust any contour parameters such as smoothing, do so before clicking [Apply]. The template's default settings should be fine but you can tinker if you want to see how different setting affect the contours. Click [OK] to close the dialog box.
    • The tiny numbers displayed on the plot come from the 'POST' file which is listed in the left margin of Surfer. Right-click on 'POST' then select 'Properties'; you will see the datafile for the numbers displayed. Click on the small folder icon next to 'Data Filename'; select your original (non-gridded) data file, YYMM_010mS.csv. Set the parameters, if necessary, X = DLon, Y = DLat then click the 'Labels' tab and select your datatype, "T". If you want to change the location of the label relative to the symbol, you can change "Position Relative to Symbol", if you want to change the symbol or symbol size, click the 'General' tab and adjust the settings. The default settings should be fine so just click [Apply] then [OK].
  5. Change the titles -
    • Double click on 'Date' in the top left margin, edit the cruise dates - dates should match the data, not necessarily the entire cruise date. Click [Apply] then [OK].
    • Double-click on 'Cruise' in the top left margin, edit the cruise name. Click [Apply] then [OK].

These steps should give you a plot ready to export to Illustrator. You can change the levels, turn off or change the color scale, adjust line thicknesses and labeling by selecting the 'Contour/properties' again then select the 'Levels' tab.

Verticals

Generating a vertical plot is very similar to the horizontal except you do not need to "blank" the gridded data. Otherwise, all the steps are similar:

  1. Start Surfer and load the template for your Line & data type. They are also found in the Q:\CODES\map_masters\ subdir: vert_Line90_T.srf is the temperature template for the southern station pattern (ie 66 sta pattern); select other datatypes or Lines (93, 90, 87, 83, 80, 77).
  2. To generate a vertical section the first step is to grid the data so select the appropriate data csv from the maps subdir.
    • For Line 90 Temperature, select YYMM_Line90S.csv where YYMM is the cruise designation (ie 1210_Line90S.csv). This csv contains all the Line 90 data for vertical plots. On the Surfer menu select 'GRID/Data", find and select the YYMM_Line90S.csv. (Note: the "S" in the datatype distingishes the source of the data - "S" = sta.csv, "D" = data report, "I" = IEH, "O" = out, "R" = hydro rpt.)
    • Configure the X, Y, Z parameters: X = Dist2Orig, Y = Depth, Z = T. Note: Z can also be another parameter but be sure to use the proper template (vert_Line90_???).
    • Gridding method = Kriging; there is NO NW to SE bias applied to vertical data; Kriging type = Point & 'Drift type' = none (default settings) are fine.
    • If you want a report generated that shows the data ranges leave the 'Grid Report' checked, otherwise uncheck 'Grid Report'
    • The output filename is by default the same as the input filename but with a .grd extension so add the datatype to the filename ie YYMM_Line90mST.grd for temperature.
    • Click [OK] to generate the .grd gridded data file.
  3. There are two ways to generate a contour - new and replace - replace is the easiest as stated above.
    • Since we began with a template, let's save it as a new file to preserve the original. In the Surfer menu, select 'File/Save As', navigate to your working 'Maps' subdir and name it appropriately ie YYMM_Line90ST.srf
    • Next, on the left margin of Surfer are the plot parameters; right-click on 'Contour' and select 'Properties'. You will see the .grd datafile and settings.
    • Left-click the small folder icon next to the .grd filename and select your .grd file, YYMM_Line90ST.grd then click [Apply]. This will replace the data contours with new data so you will see the contours change. If you want to adjust any contour parameters such as smoothing, make your changes then click [Apply]. The template default settings should be fine but you can tinker if you want to see how different setting affect the contours. Click [OK] to close the dialog box.
    • The tiny numbers displayed on the plot come from the 'POST' file which is listed on the left margin of Surfer. Right-click on 'POST' then select 'Properties'; you will see the '...post.csv' source for the numbers displayed. Click on the small folder icon next to 'Data Filename'; select a new POST data file, YYMM_Line90Spost.csv. Set the parameters, if necessary, X = Dist2Orig, Y = Depth then click the 'Labels' tab and select your datatype, "T". If you want to change the location of the label relative to the symbol, you can change "Position Relative to Symbol"; if you want to change the symbol or symbol size, return to the 'General' tab and adjust the settings. The default settings should be fine so just click [Apply] then [OK].
  4. Change the titles -
    • Double click on 'Title' in the top left margin, edit as necessary. Click [Apply] then [OK].

These steps should give you a plot ready to export to Illustrator. You can change the levels, turn off or change the color scale, adjust line thicknesses and labeling by selecting the 'Contour/properties' again then select the 'Levels' tab.

Color plots may be saved as pdf, jpg or png files for online distribution. Plot intended for further Illustrator customization & editing do not need a lot of Surfer detail.