Waterfall plot
Data visualization technique

Waterfall plots are often used to show how two-dimensional phenomena change over time. A three-dimensional spectral waterfall plot is a plot in which multiple curves of data, typically 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 spectrograms or cumulative spectral decay (CSD).
01Uses
- The results of spectral density estimation, showing the spectrum of the signal at successive intervals of time.
- The delayed response from a loudspeaker or listening room produced by impulse response testing or MLSSA.
- Spectra at different engine speeds when testing engines.


Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Waterfall plot”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- SDRpp FM subcarriers.png by Konung yaropolk, CC0
- Aaronia Spectrum Analyzer Software.jpg by Aaronia AG at German Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
- Waterfall plot of a whistle.png by Greglocock, CC BY-SA 3.0
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