diff --git a/src/python/visclaw/gauge_interp.py b/src/python/visclaw/gauge_interp.py
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+++ b/src/python/visclaw/gauge_interp.py
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+
+"""
+Tools to assist interpolating from fort.gauge output to a given
+set of times (e.g. equally spaced).
+
+Example:
+  Set gaugeno to the desired gauge number, iq to the component of q to 
+  plot, e.g. iq=3 for surface eta.
+
+    import gauge_interp
+    getgauge = gauge_interp.make_getgauge(output='_outdir')
+    gf,t1,t2 = gauge_interp.gauge_function(getgauge, gaugeno, iq)
+    t = numpy.linspace(t1,t2,50)  # desired times of interpolation
+    gt = gf(t)
+    
+Then gt will be an array of the same length as t containing interpolated 
+values (piecewise linear).
+
+See also the test function below, which can be run via:
+
+    $ cd $CLAW/geoclaw/examples/tsunami/chile2010
+    $ make .output
+    $ python
+    >>> from clawpack.visclaw import gauge_interp
+    >>> gauge_interp.test()
+
+"""
+
+
+def make_getgauge(outdir='_output'):
+    """
+    Create function getgauge that will grab one set of gauge data
+    from the fort.gauge file in directory specified by outdir.
+    """
+    from clawpack.visclaw.data import ClawPlotData
+    plotdata = ClawPlotData()
+    plotdata.outdir = outdir
+    getgauge = plotdata.getgauge
+    return getgauge
+    
+
+def gauge_function(getgauge, gaugeno, iq):
+    """
+    Given getgauge function, return a function that
+    can be used to evaluate the iq component of q at any time
+    in the interval covered by the gauge output.
+
+    Also returns t1, t2 the end points of validity.
+    
+    Does piecewise linear interpolation based on g.q and g.q[iq,:]
+    where g is the gauge data.
+    """
+
+    from scipy import interpolate
+
+    g = getgauge(gaugeno)
+    gf = interpolate.interp1d(g.t, g.q[iq,:])
+    t1 = g.t[0]
+    t2 = g.t[-1]
+    return gf, t1, t2
+
+
+def test(gaugeno=32412, iq=3):
+
+    # Test should work in $CLAW/geoclaw/examples/tsunami/chile2010
+    import numpy
+    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+
+    # interpolate at a set of times t:
+    getgauge = make_getgauge(outdir='_output')
+    gf,t1,t2 = gauge_function(getgauge, gaugeno, iq)
+    t = numpy.linspace(t1,t2,100)
+    gt = gf(t)
+
+    # Plot the two for comparison:
+    plt.plot(t,gt,'ro', markersize=5, label='interpolated')
+    g = getgauge(gaugeno)
+    plt.plot(g.t, g.q[iq,:], 'k-',label='original data')
+    plt.legend()
+    plt.show()
+