PolarGlobe: Powering up Polar Cyberinfrastructure Using M-Cube Visualization for Polar Climate Studies

该项目旨在开发和实施多变量、多维度和多面可视化技术，以支持极地气候研究。具体而言，该项目将侧重于以下目标。目标1：开发一个“PolarGlobe”虚拟地球和地图引擎，该引擎具有编程接口，并辅以尖端的可视化技术，将作为北极研究平台。该平台将支持虚拟场景仿真、体积图形渲染、真实地形渲染和动态场景交替。目标2：一种位置感知、网络支持的多元可视化技术，旨在支持横断面和纵向气候研究。目标3:2.5D可视化模块，在高效、高空间分辨率地形服务器的支持下，实现气候数据与真实地形场景的面向服务无缝集成。目标4：从不同角度研究复杂气候模式的多面可视化模块。目标5：一个通用的可视化平台，支持极地气候数据的交互式、直观和响应式可视化。这种新的极地CI门户可视化技术的发展将作为一个直观、互动和协作的决策平台，揭示极地气候中未知的时空动态，并促进对区域到全球气候复杂性的理解。这里开发的网络基础设施平台也将成为学生在气候研究、极地科学和地理信息科学方面非常有效的教学工具。

The project aims at developing and implementing techniques for multivariate, multi-dimensional, and multi-faceted visualizations to support polar climate studies. Specifically, the project will focus on the following objectives. Objective 1: develop a "PolarGlobe" virtual earth and map engine with programming interface aided by cutting-edge visualization techniques that will serve as an Arctic research platform. The platform will support virtual scene simulation, volumetric graphics rendering, true terrain rendering, and dynamic scene alternation. Objective 2: A location-aware, cyber-enabled multivariate visualization technique aimed at supporting cross-sectional and longitudinal climate studies. Objective 3: A 2.5D visualization module that realizes seamless service-oriented integration of climate data with true-terrain scenes supported by a highly efficient, high spatial-resolution terrain server. Objective 4: A multi-faceted visualization module for examining complex climate patterns from different perspectives. Objective 5: A general visualization platform to support interactive, intuitive and responsive visualization of polar climate data. The development of this new polar CI portal visualization technique will serve as an intuitive, interactive and collaborative decision-making platform to uncover the unknown spatiotemporal dynamics in the polar climate and to advance the understanding of regional to global climate complexity. The cyberinfrastructure platform here developed will also serve as a very effective teaching tool for students in climate studies, polar sciences and geographic information science.