Earth’s surface area is approximately 196.9 million square miles (510 million square kilometers) which can be hard to visualize and comprehend the environmental changes across the planet. Static diagrams and data sets can help bring perspective but don’t offer a tailored interactive experience.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA) has developed a unique solution to aid in understanding the dynamic environmental processes on Earth. NOAA’s director of the Earth Systems Research Laboratory, Alexander MacDonald, developed Science on a Sphere (SOS). SOS is a room size system that projects datasets onto a 6-foot diameter sphere, to represent the Earth.
The globe displays animations of atmospheric storms, climate change, and even socioeconomic flows. These visualizations can be tailored and used to explain complex environmental processes to many different demographics and age groups.
The first prototype of Science on a Sphere was built in 1995 and has been growing ever since. Researchers quickly saw its potential for supporting educational initiatives, from national museums to local science centers.
The goal of SOS is to educate and bring attention to the results of a changing climate. Understanding the Earth’s intricate ecosystems and global systems can be confusing. SOS is a visual aid that strives to bridge the desire to learn and complex science.
Scientists and educators can organize the data into visual playlists, similar to the MP3 Player playlist concept. SOS can even be activated and controlled by smartphones and other devices.
The system comes pre-programmed with more than 550 datasets that show the Earth’s land, oceans, and atmosphere. Audiences can interact with these datasets to understand how Earth observations inform decision making in relation to climate change.
SOS has grown its influence into 170 locations across 23 countries while supporting 20 different languages. This adaptive hands-on resource helps conceptualize Earth’s environment and ecosystem interactions with one another.