Dips > Stereonet Plots > Contour Plot

# Vector Contour Plot

A Contour Plot is generated by selecting the Contour Plot option from the toolbar or the View menu.

A Contour Plot is the main tool in Dips for analyzing mean and / or maximum pole concentrations. It is used to visualize the clustering of orientation data not immediately evident from a Pole Plot or a Scatter Plot. The contours represent statistical pole concentrations, calculated using the distribution method (Fisher or Schmidt) specified in the Contour Options dialog.

Unweighted Contour Plot

If the Terzaghi Weighting is NOT applied to the Contour Plot, then the plot is a direct contouring of the pole orientation data as measured and recorded. No bias corrections are made to adjust for directional sampling bias.

Weighted Contour Plot

The Terzaghi Weighting option can be applied to Contour Plots, to account for the sampling bias introduced by orientation data collection along Traverses. The weighting applied to each pole is governed by the orientation and type of traverse on which it was recorded. For example, a plane sub-parallel to a traverse line or plane, will be more heavily weighted than one perpendicular to the traverse. WARNING: If you use the Terzaghi Weighting option, be sure you understand the physical significance of the correction, before drawing critical conclusions based on its results – see the Terzaghi Weighting topic for details.

Note that a Contour Plot can be overlaid on Pole, Scatter or Major Planes plots, using the Overlay Contours option.

The Contour Plot range, style, etc, can be customized in the Contour Options dialog.