# Waterfall plot > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Waterfall_plot > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Waterfall_plot.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfall_plot > Source revision: 1300118262 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Data visualization technique}} {{distinguish|text=[Waterfall chart](/source/Waterfall_chart)s, 2D floating-column diagram showing increases and decreases.}} {{redirect|Waterfall display|the hardware|Waterfall display (hardware)}} thumb|300px|right|FM station broadcasting at 91.7 MHz on seen on SDRpp spectrogram '''Waterfall plots''' are often used to show how two-dimensional phenomena change over time.{{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}} A three-dimensional ''spectral waterfall plot'' is a plot in which multiple curves of data, typically [spectra](/source/Spectrum), 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](/source/rotational_speed). Waterfall plots are also often used to depict ''[spectrogram](/source/spectrogram)s'' or ''cumulative spectral decay''{{Definition needed|date=December 2021}} (CSD). ==Uses== * The results of [spectral density estimation](/source/spectral_density_estimation), showing the spectrum of the signal at successive intervals of time. * The [delayed response](/source/Latency_(audio)) from a [loudspeaker](/source/loudspeaker) or [listening room](/source/listening_room) produced by [impulse response](/source/impulse_response) testing or [MLSSA](/source/MLSSA). * Spectra at different engine speeds when testing engines. [[Image:Aaronia Spectrum Analyzer Software.jpg|thumb|The upper half of this diagram shows the frequency spectrum of a modern [switching power supply](/source/Switched-mode_power_supply) which employs [spread spectrum](/source/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.]] thumb|center|500px|Spectrogram and 3 styles of waterfall plot of a whistled sequence of 3 notes vs time ==See also== * [Loudspeaker acoustics](/source/Loudspeaker_acoustics) * [Loudspeaker measurement](/source/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}} Category:Plots (graphics) Category:Audio engineering Category:Broadcast engineering Category:Sound production technology Category:Sound recording Category:Acoustics --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Waterfall plot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfall_plot) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfall_plot?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.