Adjust the vertical exaggeration of your model in Surfer

The vertical exaggeration setting in the 3D view assumes the X, Y and Z units are in the same units. When this is the case, a vertical exaggeration of 1 will display with true vertical scaling.

However, this is not the case when the Z units are different than the XY units (for example, when the XY coordinates are lat/lon and Z units are feet). In these cases, some math is needed to calculate the appropriate vertical exaggeration value to enter to show no vertical exaggeration. Divide 1 by the conversion factor to determine the value for which there is no vertical exaggeration.

For examples:

If XY is in meters and Z is in feet:

1. 1m = 3.2808’
2. 1/3.2808 = 0.3048
3. A vertical exaggeration of 0.3048 will show no vertical exaggeration.

If XY is in feet and Z is in meters:

1. 1’ = 0.3048m
2. 1/0.3048 = 3.2808
3. A vertical exaggeration of 3.2808 will show no vertical exaggeration.

If XY is in lat/lon and Z is in meters:

1. 1° = 111300 * cos (central latitude)
2. Find 1/(111300*cos(lat))
3. A vertical exaggeration of the above result will show no vertical exaggeration.
4. For example, if the central latitude is 39.5°, then set the vertical exaggeration to 0.000011644 (1.1644e-5) to show no vertical exaggeration.

If XY is in lat/lon and Z is in feet:

1. 1° = 365228 * cos (central latitude)
2. Find 1/(365228*cos(lat))
3. A vertical exaggeration of the above result will show no vertical exaggeration.
4. For example, if the central latitude is 39.5°, then set the vertical exaggeration to 0.00000354838 (3.54838e-6) to show no vertical exaggeration