The Hidden Ocean: Visualizing the Conditions for Life
Though we live on a blue planet, the ocean is vast and largely unexplored. As scientists have begun to map its vast underwater worlds, they have discovered many ways in which the ocean makes life on Earth possible. Not only does the ocean regulate climate worldwide, but human well-being and the global economy are intimately connected to the health of ocean ecosystems.
This program was originally presented at the California Academy of Sciences’ Morrison Planetarium (San Francisco, CA) on September 5, 2013 during the Academy’s NightLife event. Audiences were taken on an immersive journey from deep space to the deep blue sea, visualizing previously invisible relationships that are shifting perspectives on the extraordinary conditions of our home planet. The live presentation was guided by Bart Shepherd, Director of the Steinhart Aquarium, and David McConville, Creative Director of the Worldviews Network. After the presentation, audience members participated in a dialogue with scientists and entrepreneurs about the ways in which human activities are affecting the ocean, including how scientific research and entrepreneurial approaches are creating new opportunities to increase both human and ocean well-being.
Program kit
Script and storyboard, installer, and the data sources used.
Script & Storyboard
- Read the storyboard (web page)
- Open the script and storyboard (Google Doc)
Installer Download
Uniview Installer Files
- wvn13_ocean_FINAL.msi (105MB)
- Requires Uniview 1.5
Data Sources
- Digital Universe Atlas
- Blue Marble Next Generation:
http://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/view.php?datasetId=BlueMarbleNG-TB
http://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/view.php?datasetId=GEBCO_BATHY - Bathymetry
- Ship Tracklines of Multibeam Bathymetric Surveys
http://www.sos.noaa.gov/Datasets/dataset.php?id=146
NOAA’s National Geophysical Data Center - Sea Currents
http://www.sos.noaa.gov/Datasets/dataset.php?id=130
Los Alamos National Labs and the Naval Postgraduate School - Coral Triangle
http://ctatlas.reefbase.org
ReefBase and The Nature Conservancy - Ocean Productivity
Oregon State University Ocean Productivity groupData visualization by Ned Gardiner - Ocean Acidification
Sarah R. Cooley, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Richard Feely, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory Carbon Program
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/Richard++A.+Feely,+Ph.D.
Visualization from http://www.sos.noaa.gov/Datasets/dataset.php?id=172
Videos and visualizations related to the program.
Future of Our Oceans (CAS)
Academy researchers and biologists discuss the possible future of the world’s oceans.
Dynamic Earth (NASA)
An animation showing the sun blasting out a coronal mass ejection, the Earth being shielded from this by its powerful magnetic field, and the dynamics of ocean and wind currents.
Science in Action: Philippine Deep Sea Expedition (CAS)
The California Academy of Sciences’ expedition to the Philippines discovered unusual treasures at great depths.
Science in Action: Discoveries in the Philippines (CAS)
Academy scientists spent this 2011 spring in the Philippines, documenting the country’s rich biodiversity with local scientists. Their results hope to bolster conservation efforts in the area.
Collecting Coral: 2011 Philippine Biodiversity Expedition (CAS)
Steinhart Aquarium biologists are shown collecting small cuttings of coral fragments on the California Academy of Sciences 2011 Philippine Biodiversity Expedition. These fragments were legally exported from the Philippines and brought into cultivation as part of the Academy’s efforts at sustainable collection-building. These small cuttings will be grown into larger colonies, which can then be fragmented to produce corals for display, in-house research projects and exchange with other zoos and aquaria. Exchanging captive-propagated corals is one way that we are able to reduce collection pressures on wild reefs.
Coral Bleaching (CAS)
We may be the last generation to see Coral Reefs as we know them. Most of the color that you see in the coral is due to the symbiotic algae, not actually the coral.
Reefs to Rainforests: The Great Expedition (CAS)
A production about CalAcademy research by ABC 7.
Planet Ocean (Omega)
Trailer for a 90-minute documentary capturing the extraordinary images of our remarkable oceans – the source of all life on our planet.
How life begins in the deep ocean (TEDEducation)
Where do squid, jellyfish and other sea creatures begin life? The story of a sea urchin reveals a stunningly beautiful saga of fertilization, development and growth in the ocean depths.
The Importance of Upwelling (OneOceanOnline)
Understanding the ecosystem created by the movement of water from bottom to top.
Diversity and Evolution of Coral Reef Fishes (CAS)
Dr. Luiz Rocha. Dr. Rocha’s research interests center on the evolution, biogeography, and ecology of coral reef fishes. His overarching goal is to understand what drives the extremely high biodiversity found in tropical reefs.
- Ocean Literacy Principles
- NOAA’s Oceans and Marine Resources in a Changing Climate
- NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program
- Coral Reef Recovery: Back from the Brink
- WEF’s The Future of Our Oceans
- tck tck tck’s The Future of Our Oceans
- Reef Depletion and the Future of Our Oceans
- Ocean Health Index
- Marine Protected Areas Atlas
- Can we restore the world’s coral reefs?
- Healthy ocean project: Blue Pledge
- California Academy of Science’s Citizen Science
- Future of Fish
- Too Big to Ignore
- Reef Resilience Toolkit
- Coral Reef Case Studies
The people and organizations behind the program.
Partners
Funders
Presenters
- David McConville (The Elumenati)
- Bart Shepherd (CAS)
Scriptwriters
- Ned Gardiner (NOAA)
- Kathi Koontz (CAS)
- David McConville (The Elumenati)
- Bart Shepherd (CAS)
- Ryan Wyatt (CAS)
Science Advisors
- Meg Burke (CAS)
- Ned Gardiner (NOAA)
- Healy Hamilton (Marine Conservation Institute)
- Ellen Hines (San Francisco State University)
- Bart Shepherd (CAS)
GIS & Visualizations
- Ned Gardiner (NOAA)
- Healy Hamilton (Marine Conservation Institute)
- Kathi Koontz (CAS)
- Greg Mancari (DMNS)
- Cynthia Powell (CalFlora)
- Drew Stephens (ESRI)
- Dan Tell (CAS)
- Ka Chun Yu (DMNS)
Creative Direction
- David McConville (The Elumenati)
Production Coordination
- Kathi Koontz (CAS)
Technical Support
- David McConville (The Elumenati)
- Ryan Wyatt (CAS)
Acknowledgements
Many thanks thanks to the following folks for helping us to identify relevant data sources:
- Drew Stephens (Esri Oceans Industry Manager)