Multiple area series stacked on top of each other to show how individual parts contribute to a total over time. The top edge represents the cumulative sum, while each colored band shows one component's share.
What's Floating Around Up There? — Objects in Orbit by Type
Best for
- Showing how components contribute to a total over time
- Visualizing shifts in composition across periods
- Displaying both individual trends and cumulative totals
Avoid when
- Individual series values are more important than the total — overlapping areas mislead
- There are many series with similar values — bands become too thin to read
- Precise comparison between series is needed — use grouped line charts instead