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Introduction
============
The matplotlib basemap toolkit is a library for plotting 2D data on maps
in `Python <http://www.python.org>`_. It is similar in functionality to
the `matlab mapping toolbox <http://www.mathworks.com/access/helpdesk/help/toolbox/map/map.shtml>`_,
the `IDL mapping facilities <http://www.msi.umn.edu/software/idl/tutorial/idl-mapping.html>`_,
`GrADS <http://www.iges.org/grads/downloads.html>`_, or the
`Generic Mapping Tools <http://gmt.soest.hawaii.edu/>`_.
`PyNGL <http://www.pyngl.ucar.edu/>`_ and
`CDAT <http://www-pcmdi.llnl.gov/software/cdat/support/vcs/vcs.html>`_
are other libraries that provide similar capabilities in Python.
Basemap does not do any plotting on it's own, but provides the facilities to transform coordinates to one of 25 different map projections (using the
`PROJ.4 <http://trac.osgeo.org/proj/>`_ C library). `Matplotlib
<http://matplotlib.sourceforge.net>`_ is then
used to plot contours, images, vectors, lines or points
in the transformed coordinates.
Shoreline, river and political boundary
datasets (from `Generic Mapping Tools <http://gmt.soest.hawaii.edu/>`_)
are provided, along with methods for plotting them. The `GEOS library
<http://geos.refractions.net>`_ is used internally to clip the coastline and polticial boundary features to the desired map projection region.
Basemap is geared toward the needs of earth scientists, particularly
oceanographers and meteorologists. Jeff Whitaker originally wrote Basemap
to help in his research (climate and weather forecasting), since at the time
`CDAT <http://www-pcmdi.llnl.gov/software/cdat/support/vcs/vcs.html>`_ was
the only other tool in python for plotting data on map projections. Over
the years, the capabilities of Basemap have evolved as scientists in other
disciplines (such as biology, geology and geophysics) requested and
contributed new features.
Cartopy, New Management, and EoL Announcement
=============================================
Starting in 2016, Basemap came under new management. The
`Cartopy project <http://scitools.org.uk/cartopy/>`_ will replace
Basemap, but it hasn't yet implemented all of Basemap's features.
All new software development should try to use Cartopy whenever possible,
and existing software should start the process of switching over to use
Cartopy. All maintenance and development efforts should be focused on
Cartopy.
Ben Root has volunteered to take over maintenance of Basemap until 2020.
Pull requests will be reviewed, and bugs will be fixed. Also, the
maintenance will ensure compatibility with packages like NumPy and Matplotlib.
New features will be accepted, but we stress that new development efforts
should be focused on Cartopy. When Python 2.7 is officially EoL'ed in 2020,
a release of Basemap will be made and support from Ben Root will end.
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