Somewhere over the rainbow – advantages and pitfalls of colourful visualizations in geosciences

Abstract

Computer-generated visualizations of geoscientific data, such as those from climate models are in high demand for a wide variety of usages; these include, among others, scientific publications, reports and graphical aides for the general public's improved understanding of complex developments. The paper will focus on the effects of colours in two-dimensional displays. Practical examples are given from which it becomes clear that considerable confusion or even damage can arise from an uninformed use of colour mapping and if results become, e.g., published in an unchecked manner by the media.