Changing Perceptions is a climate change data sonification project. Taking scientific data on a range of climate change indices, I aimed to construct data-driven music in an interactive multimedia installation to drive public engagement with human impact upon the environment. I compiled data from sources as diverse as NASA, NOAA, GISS, UK Met Office and a number of peer-reviewed journal articles offering information on greenhouse gas concentrations (Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide), global mean temperature anomaly, relative sea level change and El Nino southern oscillation weather patterns from roughly 1750 up to the year 2000.
This data was mapped to control a digital synthesiser, sampler, lights through DMX connection and video playback using the Max/MSP visual coding interface software. A technical specification of mapping decisions can be found at https://www.dropbox.com/s/e08ispbb2nd93as/DMSP%20Illuminating%20the%20Imperceptible%20-%20Observed%20Data%20Sets.xlsx?dl=0
Participants were invited to respond to a questionnaire discussing their day-to-day habits and the impact they had personally upon climate change. Their answers programmed the software to deliver data from each of the IPCC's SRES global climate change projection scenarios (B1, A1 and A2) to best match the global consequence that would be brought about if their behaviours were representative of the entire global population.
In the video playlist below are example audio playbacks of the observed data trends (1750-2000) and three of the SRES projection scenarios.
Max/MSP Sampling Buffers. Design - Daniel McGurty
Max/MSP Data Processing System. Design Daniel McGurty
Coding random climate fluctations to reflect range of precision between different General Circulation Model estimates on projected change.
Frequency Modulation Synthesiser interface
Video playback control using Jitter
Illuminating the Imperceptible: Data Mapping
Format: Parameter – Data Set: Scaling, Max/Min parameter scaled value range
Observed
Audio/Sonification:
Timer – Year: Exponential Scaling, Max – X Min – X (User determined)
FM Carrier Frequency – Global Mean Temp: Linear, Min – 280Hz. Max – 800Hz
FM Modulation Frequency – CO2: Linear, Min – 5Hz, Max- 10Hz
Frequency Modulation Pan Azimuth – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o
FM Amplitude – Sea Level Rise: Exponential Scaling, Max 1, Min 0.01
FM Modulation Frequency – CO2: Linear, Min – 5Hz, Max- 10Hz
Frequency Modulation Pan Azimuth – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o
FM Amplitude – Sea Level Rise: Exponential Scaling, Max 1, Min 0.01
Phasor Rectangular Wave Pan Azimuth – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o
Phasor Rectangular Wave Frequency – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min 0Hz, Max, 10000Hz
Phasor Rectangular Wave Frequency – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min 0Hz, Max, 10000Hz
Sine Beats Amplitude – Sea Level Rise: Exponential Scaling, Max – 90, Min 0
Sine Beats Frequency – Sea Level Rise: Exponential Scaling, Max – 100Hz, Min 70Hz
Sine Beats Frequency – Sea Level Rise: Exponential Scaling, Max – 100Hz, Min 70Hz
Buffer Sample Playback Rate: Linear, Min – 0.5, Max – 1
Except Buffer~ 3 – El Nino: Linear, Min – 0.75, Max – 1.5
Except Buffer~ 3 – El Nino: Linear, Min – 0.75, Max – 1.5
Buffer Panning Azimuth:
Buffer~ 1 – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o -45o
Buffer~ 2 – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o +45o
Buffer~ 3 – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o
Buffer~ 1 – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o -45o
Buffer~ 2 – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o +45o
Buffer~ 3 – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o
High Pass Filter – Sea Level Rise: Inverse Linear, Max – 350Hz, Min – 110Hz
Lights:
All Max and Min values for MIDI conversion to DMX
White – N2O: Linear, Max – 127, Min – -20 (MIDI values for conversion to DMX)
Blue – CH4: Linear, Max – 127, Min – -20
Red – CO2: Linear, Max – 127, Min – -20
Green – Sea Level Rise: Inverse Linear, Max – 30, Min – -20
Strobe – El Nino: Linear, Min – 0, Max – 127
Blue – CH4: Linear, Max – 127, Min – -20
Red – CO2: Linear, Max – 127, Min – -20
Green – Sea Level Rise: Inverse Linear, Max – 30, Min – -20
Strobe – El Nino: Linear, Min – 0, Max – 127
Video:
Playback Rate as proportion of 1 – Normal playback speed
Playback Rate: Linear, Sea Level Rise, Min – 0.35, Max – 3
SRES A1, A2, B1 Video: Determined by User responses in Questionnaire.
Playback Rate: Linear, Sea Level Rise, Min – 0.35, Max – 3
SRES A1, A2, B1 Video: Determined by User responses in Questionnaire.
Projected
Values derived from respective User determined SRES data set
Audio/Sonification:
Timer – CH4 Conc: Exponential Scaling
FM Carrier Frequency – Global Mean Temp: Linear, Min – 200Hz. Max – 12000Hz
FM Modulation Frequency – CO2 SRES: Linear, Min – 0Hz, Max- 7Hz
Frequency Modulation Pan Azimuth – Global Mean Temp: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o
FM Modulation Frequency – CO2 SRES: Linear, Min – 0Hz, Max- 7Hz
Frequency Modulation Pan Azimuth – Global Mean Temp: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o
Phasor Rectangular Wave Pan Azimuth – Global Mean Temp: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o
Phasor Rectangular Wave Frequency – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min 10Hz, Max, 10000Hz
Phasor Rectangular Wave Frequency – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min 10Hz, Max, 10000Hz
Sine Beats Amplitude – Global Mean Temp: Exponential Scaling, Max – 100, Min 70
Sine Beats Frequency – Global Mean Temp: Exponential Scaling, Max – 2000Hz, Min 100Hz
Sine Beats Frequency – Global Mean Temp: Exponential Scaling, Max – 2000Hz, Min 100Hz
Buffer Sample Playback Rate – Global Mean Temp: Linear, Min – 0.5, Max – 1
Except Buffer~ 3 – El Nino: Linear, Min – 0.75, Max – 1.5
Except Buffer~ 3 – El Nino: Linear, Min – 0.75, Max – 1.5
Buffer Panning Azimuth:
Buffer~ 1 – Global Mean Temp: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o -45o
Buffer~ 2 – Global Mean Temp: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o +45o
Buffer~ 3 – Global Mean Temp: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o
Buffer Panning Distance from Source:
Buffer~ 1 – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o -45o
Buffer~ 2 – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o +45o
Buffer~ 3 – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o
Buffer~ 1 – Global Mean Temp: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o -45o
Buffer~ 2 – Global Mean Temp: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o +45o
Buffer~ 3 – Global Mean Temp: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o
Buffer Panning Distance from Source:
Buffer~ 1 – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o -45o
Buffer~ 2 – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o +45o
Buffer~ 3 – CH4: ECS Random Mech, Min – -180o, Max – 180o
Files used for Buffer~1 & Buffer~2 playback: Affected by questionnaire outcome.
Lights:
All Max and Min values for MIDI conversion to DMX
White – N2O: Linear, Max – 127, Min – -20 (MIDI values for conversion to DMX)
Blue – CH4: Linear, Max – 127, Min – -20
Red – CO2: Linear, Max – 127, Min – -20
Green – Sea Level Rise: Inverse Linear, Max – 30, Min – -20
Strobe – El Nino: Linear, Min – 0, Max – 127
Blue – CH4: Linear, Max – 127, Min – -20
Red – CO2: Linear, Max – 127, Min – -20
Green – Sea Level Rise: Inverse Linear, Max – 30, Min – -20
Strobe – El Nino: Linear, Min – 0, Max – 127
Video:
Playback Rate as proportion of 1 – Normal playback speed
Playback Rate: Linear, CH4, Min – 0.75, Max – 3
SRES A1, A2, B1 Video: Determined by User responses in Questionnaire.
SRES A1, A2, B1 Video: Determined by User responses in Questionnaire.
