Sonification uses non-speech audio to convey complex data patterns in both space and time, overcoming visual and language barriers to science communication. Data sonification is primed to aid interpretations of multi-dimensional Earth and environmental data streams, perhaps even revealing unrecognized patterns and feedbacks in unwieldy datasets.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$99.00 per year
only $8.25 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Sawe, N., Chafe, C. & Treviño, J. Using data sonification to overcome science literacy, numeracy, and visualization barriers in science communication. Front. Commun. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2020.00046 (2020).
Zanella, A. et al. Sonification and sound design for astronomy research, education and public engagement. Nat. Astron. 6, 1241–1248 (2022).
Hearing is believing. Nat. Astron. 6, 1215–1215 (2022).
Sonification: A Tool for Research, Outreach and Inclusion in Space Sciences (United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, 2023); https://www.unoosa.org/documents/pdf/Space4PersonswithDisabilites/UNOOSA_Special_Report_on_Sonification_2023.pdf.
Sounds of the stars: how scientists are listening in on space. Nature 611, 204 (2022).
Russo, M. Sonification 101: How to convert data into music with python. https://medium.com/@astromattrusso/sonification-101-how-toconvert-data-into-music-with-python-71a6dd67751c (2022).
Karlstrom, L., Holtzman, B., Barth, A., Crozier, J. & Paté, A. Earth is noisy. Why should its data be silent? Eos (9 June 2023); https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EO230196.
Gernon, T. M. et al. Rift-induced disruption of cratonic keels drives kimberlite volcanism. Nature 620, 344–350 (2023).
Paredes-Sabando, P. & Fuentes-Muñoz, C. Dedoscopio project: Making astronomy accessible to blind and visually impaired (BVI) communities across Chile. CAP Journal 29, 27–31 (2021).
Noel-Storr, J. & Willebrands, M. Accessibility in astronomy for the visually impaired. Nat. Astron. 6, 1216–1218 (2022).
Mayer, R. E. The Cambridge Handbook of Multimedia Learning 2nd edn (Cambridge University Press, 2014).
Harrison, C., Zanella, A., Bonne, N., Meredith, K. & Misdariis, N. Audible universe. Nat. Astron. 6, 22–23 (2022).
Acknowledgements
The authors’ collaboration that resulted in the kimberlite sonification was supported by the University of Southampton’s (Faculty of Environmental and Life Science) Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF). T.M.G. gratefully acknowledges funding from the WoodNext Foundation. The authors acknowledge the developers of the GPlates open-source software for plate tectonic modelling (https://www.gplates.org/), supported by AuScope. They also thank S. Mazrouei (https://saramazrouei.com/) for introducing members of this team, and A. Merdith for helping obtain the mid-ocean ridge data from GPlates at the resolution needed for our animation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
All authors contributed to the sonification project that inspired this Comment. T.M.G. and M.R. wrote the manuscript. All authors provided comments and edits.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Related links
Asteroid impacts over time: https://youtu.be/ANYxkwvb8pc
Climate change since the Industrial Revolution: https://youtu.be/ONuA9HmkF3M
GPlates software: https://www.gplates.org/
Kimberlite sonification: https://youtu.be/9PU5rLCpKqs
SYSTEM Sounds: https://www.system-sounds.com/
Volcano Listening Project: https://volcanolisteningproject.org/volcanomusic/kilaueamagmadynamics/
Supplementary information
43017_2023_512_MOESM1_ESM.mp4
Supplementary Video 1 Sonification of kimberlite eruptions over the past 240 million years. Here, each eruption is represented by a note, with the pitch of the note corresponding to the reconstructed latitude (paleolatitude) of the eruption. Higher latitudes are associated with higher pitches. The longitude is reflected in the stereo position of the sound. The fragmentation rate of the tectonic plates is represented by sustained minor and major sounds, with darker minor sounds indicating plate merging and brighter major sounds indicating plate breakup. Additionally, the volume of crumbling rock sounds varies with the fragmentation rate, intensifying when the rate is high. Created by SYSTEM Sounds.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Russo, M., Gernon, T.M., Santaguida, A. et al. Improving Earth science communication and accessibility with data sonification. Nat Rev Earth Environ 5, 1–3 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-023-00512-y
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-023-00512-y