spiral.mp4
An interactive 3D web visualization of global temperature anomalies from 1880 to the present. This project creates a spiraling "time-volume" where each volution represents one orbit of the earth and the radius represents the temperature deviation from the 1951-1980 baseline, helping to visualize the accelerating trend of global warming.
It can also visualize atmospheric CO2 data measured at Mauna Loa from 1958 to the present.
The animation plays automatically upon loading. You can control the playback using the timeline and buttons at the bottom of the screen.
- Rotate: Left-click and drag to rotate the spiral.
- Zoom: Use the mouse scroll wheel.
- Move: Right-click and drag (requires "Free Camera" to be enabled in the settings).
Click the gear icon to access settings. Controls are grouped into collapsible View, Animation, Data Source, and Export sections. View starts expanded; each section can be opened independently.
Use the Dataset selector at the top of Settings to switch between Temperature and CO2 Monthly. Each dataset retains its playback position and play/pause state while switching. The selector's options are generated from DATASET_CONFIG, so future supported datasets can appear without adding another toggle.
To save an animation, open Export, set Video Length (s), and select Export video. The full timeline is recorded from the current camera view, including visible annotations but excluding the interface. Recording runs in real time at up to 30 fps, with a maximum long edge of 1920 pixels. Keep the page visible and its window size unchanged until Download .mp4 or Download .webm appears; the format is selected from those supported by your browser. You can collapse Export while recording; its heading shows Recording or Ready. You can cancel the export, and your original playback position and play/pause state are restored afterward. The video is generated locally without uploading data. Export .glb remains available for the 3D model.
To update the selected dataset, open Data Source and select Fetch Latest (with a proxy fallback) or Load .txt. You can also drag and drop a supported raw data file into the browser window.
This app includes a web app manifest and service worker, so it can be installed to iPhone and Android home screens and run in standalone mode (click "Add to Home Screen" in Settings).
This project is a 3D implementation of the "Climate Spiral" concept originally visualized by climate scientist Ed Hawkins from the University of Reading in 2016.
- Original Concept: Wikipedia: Climate Spiral
- NASA Visualization: Scientific Visualization Studio
spiral_side_view.mp4
The data used in this visualization comes from:
- NASA GISS Surface Temperature Analysis (GISTEMP v4)
Source: NASA GISS Surface Temperature Analysis
Raw Data File: GLB.Ts+dSST.txt - NOAA GML Mauna Loa CO2 trend (monthly mean)
Source: NOAA GML CO2 Trends
Raw Data File: co2_mm_mlo.txt
This project is built using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript (ES6). The 3D rendering logic is handled by the Three.js library.
This project is licensed under the MIT License. Feel free to modify and share.