Free Rose Diagram Maker
Plot orientation data as a rose diagram — bidirectional for strikes and lineations, or a full 0–360° rose for directional data like paleocurrents. Free, in your browser, download as PNG.
Summary
- Measurements
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- Dominant sector
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What is a rose diagram?
A rose diagram is a circular histogram for orientation data. The compass is divided into equal sectors (here, 10°), and each petal grows outward in proportion to how many measurements point in that direction. It makes the dominant trend of a dataset obvious at a glance.
Strikes are bidirectional: a strike of 045 is the same line as 225, so strike roses mirror every petal across the centre. Directional data — paleocurrents, fault-slip vectors, glacial striae — carry a true sense of direction, so they are plotted as a full 0–360° rose. Use the toggle above to switch modes.
Want the third dimension too? Plot the same strikes as poles and great circles on our stereonet plotter, or learn how to read a stereonet.
Rose diagram FAQ
What is a rose diagram?
A circular histogram showing the frequency of orientation data by direction. Each petal is a range of directions (10°); its length is proportional to the count in that range.
Why are strike rose diagrams bidirectional?
A strike is a line, so 045 equals 225. Strike roses mirror each petal across the centre. Directional data (paleocurrents, fault slip) use a full 0–360° rose instead.
Does GeoKit make rose diagrams in the field?
Yes. The free GeoKit app builds a strike rose, stereonet, and dip histogram automatically from your measurements — offline, on iOS & Android.
Build rose diagrams in the field
GeoKit plots your strike rose, stereonet, and dip stats automatically as you map — free, offline, on iOS & Android.
