Immersive Visualization of Immersive Visualization of the circulation and the circulation and

biology of the Northeast biology of the Northeast Pacific using spatially Pacific using spatially nested model outputnested model output

Albert J. Hermann Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and the Oceans, UW/NOAA/PMEL, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115

Enrique N. Curchitser (LDEO) Dale B. Haidvogel (Rutgers)

Elizabeth L. Dobbins (UW/NOAA/PMEL)Sarah Hinckley (NOAA/AFSC)

Christopher W. Moore (UW/NOAA/PMEL)

The Problem: Huge DatasetsThe Problem: Huge Datasets

• 3D models with >103D models with >1066 grid grid points, long simulations, points, long simulations, multiple scales multiple scales

• How to visualize?How to visualize?– Simple contours and vectorsSimple contours and vectors– Shaded plots, colored vectorsShaded plots, colored vectors– Surfaces in three dimensions Surfaces in three dimensions – Float pathsFloat paths– Surfaces and floats viewed Surfaces and floats viewed

with binocular (stereo) vision with binocular (stereo) vision

-> -> immersion (virtual reality)

A set of nested models for the Pacific

What do we gain by What do we gain by immersion?immersion?• Surfaces reveal all scales of 3D features; Surfaces reveal all scales of 3D features;

contour plots hide smaller scales, patchy contour plots hide smaller scales, patchy distributions (e.g. “clouds”)distributions (e.g. “clouds”)

• Eulerian velocities / Lagrangian paths really Eulerian velocities / Lagrangian paths really are 3-dimensional! Examine u,v,w vectors are 3-dimensional! Examine u,v,w vectors and paths of animated particles (or fish)and paths of animated particles (or fish)

• Binocular vision reveals spatial information Binocular vision reveals spatial information quickly; faster exploration of data via “real quickly; faster exploration of data via “real world” type of experience world” type of experience

Visualization of floats in 3DVisualization of floats in 3D

Immersive techniquesImmersive techniques

• Shutterglasses ($$ - $$$$)Shutterglasses ($$ - $$$$)– alternate left eye/right eye view rapidly in time; wear alternate left eye/right eye view rapidly in time; wear

shutterglasses to synchronize vision in left/right eye with shutterglasses to synchronize vision in left/right eye with left/right images on monitorleft/right images on monitor

• Autostereo ($$$)Autostereo ($$$)– No glasses required, special monitor with lenses No glasses required, special monitor with lenses

• Polarization ($$$)Polarization ($$$)– – Superimpose two images with different polarization of Superimpose two images with different polarization of

light; wear passive polarized lenses to viewlight; wear passive polarized lenses to view

• Anaglyphs ($1) Anaglyphs ($1) – Superimpose two images with different color (red/blue); Superimpose two images with different color (red/blue);

wear passive colored lenses to view – just like 3D comics!wear passive colored lenses to view – just like 3D comics!

In-house virtual reality In-house virtual reality system..system..

facilitates exploration of model facilitates exploration of model resultsresults

Nested Biophysical Models for GLOBEC:

NCEP/MM5 -> ROMS/NPZ -> IBM

NESTED CIRCULATION MODEL DOMAINS

NEP CGOA

NPac

Immersive ROMS Immersive ROMS visualizationvisualization• Northeast Pacific (NEP) physicsNortheast Pacific (NEP) physics

– conduct sensitivity experimentsconduct sensitivity experiments– use immersive visualization to explore use immersive visualization to explore

differences between resulting fieldsdifferences between resulting fields

• Coastal Gulf of Alaska (CGOA) physics and Coastal Gulf of Alaska (CGOA) physics and biologybiology– use immersive visualization to explore patchy use immersive visualization to explore patchy

biology and physics at fine scalesbiology and physics at fine scales

NEP El Nino sensitivity NEP El Nino sensitivity experimentsexperiments

• ““Standard” run with Standard” run with – NCEP daily surface forcing (VW)NCEP daily surface forcing (VW)– NPac 3-day averages as BC (VBC)NPac 3-day averages as BC (VBC)

• ““Climatological” run using Climatological” run using – monthly climatology of NCEP surface forcing monthly climatology of NCEP surface forcing

(CW)(CW)– monthly climatology of NPac BC (CBC)monthly climatology of NPac BC (CBC)

• VW with CBCVW with CBC

• CW with VBCCW with VBC

GLOBEC NPZ GLOBEC NPZ model for the model for the

CGOA CGOA

(S. Hinckley)(S. Hinckley)

Width of arrow represents N flux

Portlock Bank

KodiakIsland

AlbatrossBank

Hi NHi N

Lo NLo N

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll