A Data Visualization Case Study: Ash from Eyjafjallajökull Volcano

• Main Author: Robert Simmon
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Visualization; design; color; communication; pre-attentive processing; Eyjafjallajökull
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.368.2602; http://www.isprs.org/proceedings/2011/ISRSE-34/211104015Final00517.pdf

Although data visualization is a powerful tool in Earth science, the resulting imagery is often complex and difficult to interpret for non-experts. Students, journalists, web site visitors, or museum attendees often have difficulty understanding false-color imagery and data-driven maps. Many visualizations are designed for data exploration or peer communication. Different techniques are necessary for communication with a broad audience. Data visualization combines ideas from cognitive science, graphic design, and cartography, and applies them to the challenge of presenting data clearly. Visualizers on NASA's Earth Observatory web site team use these techniques to craft images based on remote sensing data. Imagery of the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull Volcano serves as a case study, showing specific applications of general design techniques. By using color carefully, precisely aligning disparate data sets, and highlighting important features, we crafted an image that clearly conveys the complex distribution of airborne ash.