Abstract

In order to better predict how the Earth's changing climate will affect ocean circulation, and more generally the behaviour of the ocean-atmosphere system, ocean modellers need to have the ability to accurately assimilate historical and near-real time data into their models. This process has traditionally included the use of fairly static plots of model and observed data in order to attempt to visualize where discrepancies between the two are greatest. Here we present OceanDIVA - Ocean Data Intercomparison and Visualization Application. OceanDIVA can read in ocean data from both local sources, and from any publicly accessible data holdings worldwide via OPeNDAP, and output the data into either Google Earth or a freely-available online virtual globe. One of its key capabilities is to read in model data from one source and observed data from another unrelated source, and to compare the two - giving data on the misfit. This is done in the form of colour-coded observation locations, or statistical difference plots averaged over regions which can be displayed on the virtual globe. If a particular profile is of interest then users may click on that icon and OceanDIVA will proceed to generate a plot of data with depth on the fly. Data may also be plotted on temperature levels which removes errors associated with estimating the depth at which water masses are found. By harvesting the power and ease of use of virtual globes, we see this as a useful tool to visualize and compare data from different sources, generating new datasets which have more value than the sum of their constituent parts. OceanDIVA could be readily expanded to incorporate, for example, satellite data, biological marine data, or data over land.

Presentation

Talk
PPT (15 MB)
WMV: Rotating Earth (6 MB)
AVI: Interface (66 MB)
WMV: Points Visualization (75 MB)
WMV: In FreeEarth (7 MB)

All Files (ZIP) (119 MB)