NAME

     blockmean - filter to block average (x,y,z) data by L2 norm


SYNOPSIS

     blockmean [  xyz[w]file(s)  ]  - Ix_inc[m|c][/y_inc[m|c]]  -
     Rwest/east/south/north[r]  [ -H ] [ -N ] [ -V ] [ -W[io] ] [
     -: ] [ -b[i|o][d] ]


DESCRIPTION

     blockmean reads  arbitrarily  located  (x,y,z)  triples  [or
     optionally  weighted  quadruples  (x,y,z,w)]  from  standard
     input [or xyz[w]file(s)] and writes  to  standard  output  a
     mean  position and value for every non-empty block in a grid
     region defined by the -R and -I arguments.  Either blockmean
     or blockmedian should be used as a pre-processor before run-
     ning surface to avoid  aliasing  short  wavelengths.   These
     routines are also generally useful for decimating or averag-
     ing (x,y,z) data.  You can modify the precision of the  out-
     put format by editing the D_FORMAT parameter in your .gmtde-
     faults file, or you may choose binary  input  and/or  output
     using single or double precision storage.

     xyz[w]file(s)
          3 [or 4] column ASCII file(s) [or binary, see -b] hold-
          ing (x,y,z[,w]) data values.  [w] is an optional weight
          for the data.  If no file is specified, blockmean  will
          read from standard input.

     -I    x_inc [and optionally  y_inc]  is  the  grid  spacing.
          Append m to indicate minutes or c to indicate seconds.

     -R    west, east, south, and north  specify  the  Region  of
          interest.  To specify boundaries in degrees and minutes
          [and seconds], use the dd:mm[:ss] format.  Append r  if
          lower  left  and  upper right map coordinates are given
          instead of wesn.


OPTIONS

     -H    Input file(s) has Header record(s).  Number of  header
          records  can  be  changed  by editing your .gmtdefaults
          file.  If used, GMT default is 1  header  record.   Not
          used with binary data.

     -N    Offsets the grid registration of the boxes.  Use pixel
          registration instead of grid registration.  By default,
          the centers of the blocks  coincide  with  the  defined
          lattice  nodes;  each block contains all points nearest
          to a lattice node.  The  - N  option  will  offset  the
          blocks  so their edges coincide with the lattice lines.
          For example, suppose the arguments  are  - R10/15/10/15
          and  - I1   This defines a 6 x 6 block array; the lower
          left block will average data  within  9.5  <=  (x,y)  <
          10.5.  If the same lattice is given with the -N option,
          the block array is 5 x 5 and the lower left block  will
          average  the data within 10 <= (x,y) < 11.  The default
          registration is normally  used  for  preprocessing  and
          gridding map data.

     -V    Selects verbose mode, which will send progress reports
          to stderr [Default runs "silently"].

     -W    Weighted modifier[s].  Unweighted input and output has
          3  columns  x,y,z;  Weighted i/o has 4 columns x,y,z,w.
          Weights can be used in input to construct weighted mean
          values  in blocks.  Weight sums can be reported in out-
          put for later combining several runs, etc.  Use -W  for
          weighted  i/o,  - Wi  for  weighted input only, -Wo for
          weighted output only.  [Default uses unweighted i/o]

       -   :    Toggles    between    (longitude,latitude)    and
          (latitude,longitude)    input/output.     [Default   is
          (longitude,latitude)]

     -b    Selects binary input and output mode.  Append i  or  o
          to  select single precision binary input or output only
          [Default is ASCII].  Append d to indicate double preci-
          sion  for  binary data (if both binary input and output
          are selected they will have the same precision).


EXAMPLES

     To find 5 by 5 minute block means from  the  ASCII  data  in
     hawaii.xyg, try

     blockmean hawaii.xyg -R198/208/18/25 -I5m > hawaii_5x5.xyg


SEE ALSO

     blockmedian, gmtdefaults, gmt, nearneighbor,  surface,  tri-
     angulate


REFERENCES

     Wessel, P., and W. H. F. Smith, 1995,  The  Generic  Mapping
     Tools  (GMT)  version  3.0  Technical  Reference & Cookbook,
     SOEST/NOAA.
     Wessel, P., and W. H. F. Smith, 1995,  New  Version  of  the
     Generic Mapping Tools Released, EOS Trans. AGU, 76, p. 329.
     Wessel, P., and W. H. F. Smith, 1995,  New  Version  of  the
     Generic           Mapping           Tools          Released,
     http://www.agu.org/eos_elec/95154e.html, Copyright  1995  by
     the American Geophysical Union.
     Wessel, P., and W. H. F. Smith, 1991,  Free  Software  Helps
     Map and Display Data, EOS Trans. AGU, 72, p. 441.