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Visualizing atmospheric models in 4D

Prof. Mat Evans

Atmospheric chemistry transport models produce a raft of output. The concentrations of pollutants are calculated for every spot in the Earth’s atmosphere leading to large 3D datasets that vary in time and space (see for example https://youtu.be/DzfkqzacXtI or https://youtu.be/3hZm-BirFKw). Visualizing and understanding this data is a challenge. Advances in virtual reality technology such as Google Cardboard and Occulus Rift provide new methodologies to explore the world both real and artificial.

This project will take output from our global and regional models and ideally use Google Cardboard approaches to allow its visualization. The project will develop the visualization capability and then think about how the new approaches can be used to

  1. Develop a deeper understanding of the processes controlling air pollution and climate change
  2. Develop visualizations for be used for education / public engagement purposes.

Figure 1. A Google Cardboard holder that uses a mobile phone to project two images onto the eyes so allowing a 3D image to be created. The objective is to create visualization for atmospheric model output using this approach.

Potential approaches would be visualize the concentration of pollutants in 3D sense on a spinning earth, to be able to ‘step into’ the pollution over Europe or Africa, or to be able to visualize multiple pollutants simultaneously. The project would be ideally suited to a student undertaking a computer science / visualization / simulation / computer graphics etc undergraduate courses.

The student would join the modeling group at the Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory that currently consists of around 12 PhDs, PDRAs and NCAS Staff. They would engage with the wider research being undertaken, attend group meetings etc. and work with the staff and students.