Perpetual Ocean
Check out these amazing animations of the world's surface ocean currents.
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.
Click on "This visualization" to go to page with links to the movies. Choose a file size to suit the type of internet connection you are using. Smaller sizes download faster. Turn on the sound. It is set to music.
This visualization was produced using NASA/JPL's computational model called Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean, Phase II or ECCO2.. ECCO2 is high resolution model of the global ocean and sea-ice. ECCO2 attempts to model the oceans and sea ice to increasingly accurate resolutions that begin to resolve ocean eddies and other narrow-current systems which transport heat and carbon in the oceans.The ECCO2 model simulates 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.
17 comments:
Wow! It's amazing how one map can make a difference into understanding how the world works. Technology is so helpful in this era now.
- J.D Wynn
Looking at the animation is almost like a Van Gogh painting. If I'd see the photos of the rainbow swirling ocean before knowing what it is, I'd only be able to imagine curly blond hair in the breeze. I'd never have thought to put the Earth in such a perspective!
Julie Lisak
It's just awesome how technology nowadays can help all of us understand Earth a lot better. It's just amazing how we continue to develop our technology even more to find out more and more things about the Earth.
-Jacob Wood
I love how technology is being used to educate people now a days. It's amazing to see how the earth works, especially with the currents in the oceans. I'm interested to see how much more we will be able to learn from using technology in the future.
- Laura Doherty
Wow that was amazing. I feel like I’ve learned more about the world in these blog posts then I have ever known. And most of them have been due to our fast advancement in technology. I can’t imagine what technology is going to bring us in the future considering how much that it has already taught us recently. The earth is such a big place with so many unknown things within it, especially the ocean. It’s amazing to be able to see the currents in the ocean in such a wide spectrum. It was very interesting to watch all the currents and their patterns throughout the planet.
-Kierstyn Bone
I thought it was interesting that researchers could use the ocean's flow to show a visualization of the earth. ECCO2 makes it possible for researchers to understand the ocean and the ice surrounding it.
Britini Irwin
It was very interesting seeing the visualization in this perspective. It is refreshing viewing the Earth in this perspective rather than the usual static view. Another interesting way technology has furthered our understanding of the world.
It is refreshing to view such a dynamic image of the world. Compared to the usual static images, this visualization is amazing. It is so interesting to see our understanding of the Earth increase with advancements in technology.
Carley Pfleger
I am so amazed by this visual of the earth. It was so cool seeing the movement. Technology has become so far over the years its amazing how much a person can learn from a simple visual. The ECCO2 model can really help researchers improve on their research and have a better understanding of the ocean and the way it works.
-Nicole Weinberg-
ESCI 111
It is very neat to view the earth and ocean from a different standpoint. This technology will further help researchers understand the flow of ocean currents.
- Andrew Hagan
This was by far the coolest thing I have seen this week! I liked seeing the different locations in the sea where the currents had a complete swirl affect. I wonder if the locations in the ocean have a specific effect on how the currents behave. I do like how much technology has advanced our knowledge of the Earth!
Melissa McKenney
ESC1 111
I found it really interesting to see the visualization of the ocean currents around the world. Being an education major I think this would be a great tool to use in the classroom to give students a different visualization of the ocean.
~ Tarah Kohler
Wow, this certainly is now one's ideal image of the ocean. I beleive humans are on such a small scale as far observing only what happens around them such as the water they can see; that very few never realize the actual "big picture" of currents in the ocean around the world. This helps to enlighten those.
William Roa-Schmitt
This is an amazing feat of technology and science. Such an awesome view of our world and the interconnectedness of everything. Wow!
It is pretty interesting to view the earth and ocean in a different way. Its neat to know that technology is becoming so advanced that it is giving us a better understanding of the earth. I think this is a great thing to use to educate the younger generation about how the earth is changing, but also the older generation on how the earth has changed.
Devin Caldwell
I agree with Julie. The first thing I imagined wa Van Gogh's art. All of the swirls made me dizzy after awhile. Amazing use of technology to show the Earth changing.
Adam Reid
As detailed as this picture is with information it actually looks like it would be a really cool as a art project type of deal. Like it actually doesn't look scientific until you know what each thing stands for.
Nathan Pierce
ESCI111
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