Toward using VR in the East Sea simulation

Abstract

This study presents the virtual reality (VR) application to visualize the scientific data from oceanographic simulation The seasonal circulation and thermohaline structure in the East Sea were studied numerically using various numerical models such as the POM, the COHERENS and the ROMS with horizontal resolution (1/12)˚x (1/12)˚ and 23 sigma levels(or equivalent) conforming to a relatively realistic bottom topography. For the simulation run, the models use the climatological monthly mean surface wind stress, net heat flux, and fresh-water flux from the COADS and from Korea Meteorological Agency data. The simulated temperature, salinity, and velocity fields are analyzed in a VR technique. The VR system used for the study consists of a K-CAVE and an immersive VR table projected on the SGI’s Onyx2 visual workstation. The immersive desk and cave are an interactive and immersive visualization tool emerging as an important component of the scientific process because it provides unprecedented power to explore data sets and to communicate what we learn in very new ways. Demonstrations of interactive, animated, 3D stereographic visualizations are made including data from various physical processes of the East Sea simulation.