Perpetual ocean (2005-2007).
This visualization shows ocean surface currents around
the world during the period from June 2005 through December 2007. The
visualization does not include a narration or annotations; the goal was
to use ocean flow data to create a simple, visceral experience.
This
visualization was produced using model output from the joint MIT/JPL
project: Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean, Phase II
or
ECCO2. ECCO2 uses the MIT general
circulation model (MITgcm) to synthesize satellite and in-situ data of
the global ocean and sea-ice at resolutions that begin to resolve ocean
eddies and other narrow current systems, which transport heat and carbon
in the oceans. ECCO2 provides ocean flows at all depths, but only
surface flows are used in this visualization. The dark patterns under
the ocean represent the undersea bathymetry. Topographic land
exaggeration is 20x and bathymetric exaggeration is 40x.
This visualization was shown at the SIGGRAPH Asia 2012 Computer Animation Festival.
Credits:
Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC): Lead Animator
Horace Mitchell (NASA/GSFC): Animator
Victoria Weeks (HTSI): Video Editor
Hong Zhang (UCLA): Scientist
Dimitris Menemenlis (NASA/JPL CalTech): Scientist
