SimulatingEarth System Dynamicswith AI

Visualising how AI models the complex interactions between land, atmosphere and extreme climate events.

Challenge

ECMWF and the Destination Earth initiative needed a way to explain one of the most complex parts of Earth-system modelling: the Land Component.

The goal was to communicate how land processes such as soil moisture, soil temperature and snow cover interact with the atmosphere, while also explaining the scientific complexity behind AI-based land simulations. The main challenge was to create an animation that remained visually engaging for a broad audience without oversimplifying the science.

Idea, solution

We developed a fully animated explainer that combines scientific storytelling, motion design and process visualisation.

A central visual concept was the use of fluid scene transitions: the camera moves through landscapes, zooms into specific details and reveals new scenes within scenes. This approach was technically demanding in animation, but it helped create a clear and engaging flow for the audience.

Result

The final animation transforms a highly technical AI Earth-system workflow into a visually accessible narrative.
It demonstrates how AI-supported land modelling can predict environmental conditions in minutes instead of days, while revealing hidden patterns behind extreme events such as the 2022 European heatwave.

The project is part of Design & Data’s ongoing work for ECMWF, translating advanced climate and Earth-system science into engaging visual communication for the wider Destination Earth initiative.

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