[gradsusr] lambert map projection for small grids

[Jeff Duda]

Hello,
I frequently use grids that are projected using the Lambert conformal conic
projection.  I see that Grads has an mproj option for LCC grids, but they
always look horrible for the sizes of the domains I want to plot.  I've
attached a few examples.  Compare the attached plot full_nam_300mb_f01.gif
to the plot at
http://www.meteor.iastate.edu/~jdduda/forecast/NAM/full_300mb_f01.gif.  For
this particular comparison the projected plot doesn't look all that bad,
but there is still a hint of the problem (look at how much white surrounds
the image).  I have parea set to give 0.25 page inches of space around the
plot.  For a better example of this, compare attached image nam_0-3_SRH_f05
to the image at
http://www.meteor.iastate.edu/~jdduda/forecast/NAM/0-3_SRH_f01.gif.  Now
the image using mproj lambert has a significant amount of white space where
it seems like there should be room to fill.  I'm familiar enough with this
projection to know that it doesn't have to be applied to global grids, but
why does it look so bad, especially for smaller areas?  Can this be
improved upon?

Jeff Duda

-- 
Jeff Duda
Graduate research assistant
University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology
Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms
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