BringingAtmospheric Datato Life

Challenge

As part of the EU-funded CoCO2 research project coordinated by ECMWF, D&D was comissioned to create animated data visualizations depicting the evolution of methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the atmosphere throughout 2021. With the aim to be engaging and accessible to a broad audience, including non-experts and the media.
A key challenge was the selection of the concertation ranges, colour pallets and colour gradients, that would accurately represent the data while still ensuring clarity and accessibility for all viewers.

Idea, solution

Working closely with ECMWF, we developed the animations based on 3-hourly column-averaged concentration data from model simulations, provided in NetCDF files.

Special attention was given to selecting the appropriate concentration and color ranges to effectively highlight and accurately represent the data. These choices were crucial in effectively visualizing the global movement of these gases and highlithing their sources, providing clear insights into their behavior and variations throughout the year.Additionally, the colour palettes were selected to also guarantee accessibility for viewers with visual impairments, such as color blindness.

Result

The final animations were published on the ECMWF website, offering an engaging way to visualize the evolution of CH4, CO, and CO2 concentrations over 2021. They helped visualize the complex scientific data and provided the public and media with a clear view of how these gases move and behave in the atmosphere, providing deeper insights into atmospheric phenomena, such as the impact of wildfires on gas concentrations.