PyGPlates enables access to GPlates functionality via the Python programming language.

Download PyGPlates 0.36:-

Download PyGPlates 0.36 from the Download page.

What's new in PyGPlates 0.36:-

• Versioning scheme changed:
  • This release is version 0.36 (instead of revision 36).
• Separate binary packages for macOS on Intel (x84_64) and macOS on M1 (arm64).
  • Unlike GPlates, pyGPlates typically needs to be compiled separately for these two architectures.
• New class topological model:
  • Use it to create a topological snapshot for a particular geological time.
    • Then query snapshot for resolved topological plates and deforming networks,
      • and their shared boundaries.
    • Easier than using the resolve_topologies() function.
  • Also use it to reconstruct and deform points over a time period:
    • To get a history of reconstructed positions, crustal stretching and tectonic subsidence.
      • See the sample code.
    • Equivalent to the "Reconstruct using topologies" option in green layers in GPlates.
      • Use same algorithm as GPlates for deactivating points (eg, subduction of oceanic points),
      • Or override with your own algorithm.
    • Control strain rate clamping to avoid excessive crustal stretching.
      • Similar to clamping in brown "Resolved Topological Networks" layers in GPlates.
• File I/O:
  • GeoJSON and GeoPackage supported when reading/writing feature collections.
  • GeoJSON supported when exporting reconstructed and resolved geometries.
• New ways to create a rotation between two points, or between two lines:
  • Search for "New in version 0.29" in FiniteRotation.
• Interior holes supported in polygons (including dateline-wrapped polygons).
• All geometry types support get_centroid().
  • Avoids having to first test if geometry is a point, multi-point, polyline or polygon.
• Support all NumPy integer and float scalar types as arguments in pyGPlates:
  • For example, a pyGPlates function accepting a float will also accept a numpy.float64.
• Bug fixes.

Coming soon:-

• Anaconda support:
  • conda install pygplates

What's next:-

• Improve velocities:
  • Make velocities generally easier to calculate.
  • Query velocities (and strain rates) inside deforming networks.
  • Query velocities on topological boundaries (rigid and deforming).
• Improve the reconstruction/deformation of points using topogical plates and deforming networks:
  • Support creating deforming mesh points within a specific deforming network.
    • Similar to the "Generate Deforming Mesh Points" dialog in GPlates.
  • Query velocities, strain rates and accumulated strain at reconstructed/deformed points.
    • Currently can query their positions and scalars (eg, crustal stretching and tectonic subsidence).

Documentation:-

Documentation and tutorials are available on the User Documentation page, and include:

• an introduction to pyGPlates,
• an installation guide,
• a 'Getting Started' tutorial,
• documented sample code,
• foundations of pyGPlates, and
• a detailed reference of pyGPlates functions and classes.

The pyGPlates tutorials are Jupyter Notebooks that analyse and visualise real-world data using pyGPlates. These tutorials complement the sample code in the pyGPlates documentation by providing a more research-oriented focus.