Education through the Science On a Sphere.

The Science On a Sphere (SOS),developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the early 2000s, is a data visualization tool that allows 2-D datasets to be projected onto a globe. This allows people to see the dataset on a global, more realistic scale, rather than seeing it on a screen or a flat surface. This is an excellent tool for learning and teaching about Earth System science and increasing public understanding of the environment.

This past summer while interning at the NOAA Center for Climate and Weather Prediction (NCWCP) offices in College Park, Maryland, I had the opportunity to collaborate with NOAA scientists and create visualizations for the SOS using the computer programming language Python. I improved the usability and operations of the SOS through developing user manuals, training sessions, and video tutorials.