Waterfall plot: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Data visualization technique}}

{{Unreferenced stub|auto=yes|date=December 2009}}

{{Dablinkdistinguish|Thistext=[[Waterfall page refers to a type of 3D graph representationchart]]s, for the 2D floating -column diagram showing increases and decreases, see [[waterfall chart]].}}

{{redirect|Waterfall display|the hardware|Waterfall display (hardware)}}

[[File:SDRpp FM subcarriers.png|thumb|300px|right|FM station broadcasting at 91.7 MHz on seen on SDRpp spectrogram]]

A '''Waterfall plot''' is a three-dimensional plot which shows grid lines for only one of the axes. The result is a series of "mountain" shapes that appear to be side by side, resembling a waterfall. The waterfall plot is often used to show how two-dimensional information changes over time or some other variable. The term "waterfall plot" is sometimes used interchangeably with "[[spectrogram]]".

'''Waterfall plots''' are often used to show how two-dimensional phenomena change over time.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Glen |first1=Stephanie |title=Waterfall Plot / Chart: Definition, Types & Examples |url=https://www.statisticshowto.com/waterfall-plot/ |website=statisticshowto.com |date=11 January 2018 |access-date=13 October 2021}}</ref> A three-dimensional ''spectral waterfall plot'' is a plot in which multiple curves of data, typically [[Spectrum|spectra]], are displayed simultaneously. Typically the curves are staggered both across the screen and vertically, with "nearer" curves masking the ones behind. The result is a series of "mountain" shapes that appear to be side by side. The waterfall plot is often used to show how two-dimensional information changes over time or some other variable such as [[rotational speed]]. Waterfall plots are also often used to depict ''[[spectrogram]]s'' or ''cumulative spectral decay''{{Definition needed|date=December 2021}} (CSD).

==Uses==

* The results of [[spectrumspectral density analysisestimation]], showing the spectrum of the signal at successive intervals of time.

Waterfall plots are often used to show the:

* The [[Latency (audio)|delayed response]] from a [[loudspeaker]] or [[listening room]] produced by [[impulse response]] testing or [[MLSSA]].

* results of [[spectrum analysis]], showing the spectrum of the signal at successive intervals of time.

* spectraSpectra at different engine speeds when testing engines.

* [[delayed response]] from a [[loudspeaker]] or [[listening room]] produced by [[impulse response]] testing or [[MLSSA]].

[[Image:Aaronia Spectrum Analyzer Software.jpg|thumb|The upper half of this diagram shows the frequency spectrum of a modern [[Switched-mode power supply|switching power supply]] which employs [[spread spectrum]]. The lower half is a waterfall plot showing the variation of the frequency spectrum over time during the power supply's heating up period.]]

* spectra at different engine speeds when testing engines.

[[Image:Waterfall plot of a whistle.png|thumb|center|500px|Spectrogram and 3 styles of waterfall plot of a whistled sequence of 3 notes vs time]]

==See also==

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* [[Loudspeaker measurement]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

* [http://blog.prosig.com/2007/06/24/measuring-torsional-crank-shaft-jitter/ Typical engine vibration waterfall]

* [http://vibrationdata.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/waterfall-fft/ Waterfall FFT Matlab script]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Waterfall Plot}}

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[[Category:Sound recording]]

[[Category:Acoustics]]

{{Tech-stub}}