What Does Data Sound Like?

Activity Source: The American Geophysical Union

 

Background

Look at the picture of the beach. What do you see? If you were there, what might you hear? What do those sounds tell you about the environment? How can sounds be used to convey information?

Data sonification is a technique that transforms numerical information into sound, allowing us to listen to data patterns instead of visualizing them. In the context of geologic data, this means converting geological information, such as seismic activity or rock formations, into audible tones. For example, variations in rock density might be represented by different pitches or tones. This method helps scientists and researchers identify trends and anomalies in the data by using their sense of hearing. Ultimately, data sonification provides an alternative way to explore and understand complex geological information beyond traditional visual representation.

Materials

  • Computer or tablet with internet access

Procedure

  1. Listen to climate data that has been sonified. Listen to it without reading the description.

    a. Describe the trend of the consistent tone. How does it change over time?

    b. Describe the trend of the shorter notes. How do they change?

    c. Look at the description for more information on what factors have been sonified in this video.

  2. Based on the sounds, sketch out what the graph (trend) of the two data sets would look like.

    a. What information is “missing” from this graph? (Consider what information is typically on a graphs’ axes as well as what information you got from the video and its description rather than from the sound itself.)

    b. How else might you convey this missing information to someone who is listening to sonified data?

  3. Choose a data set that you would like to sonify. Use this planning sheet to think about important considerations taken when sonifying data.

Analysis

  1. Revisit the graph you made for the climate data (step 2).

    a. Compare the graph of CO2 concentration (blue line) with your sketch. How are they similar? How are they different? Why might there be differences?

    b. The grey line represents CO2 emissions from humans. How would you add this to the data sonification?

    c. Compare the graph of average temperature with your sketch. How are they similar? How are they different? Why might there be differences?

  2. How can data sonification help to make data accessible to a greater audience versus only having a visualization (graph or table)?

Further Steps

Read more about data sonification.

Download the “Sonification Sandbox” created by Bruce Walker of the Georgia Tech Sonification Lab to sonify your own data!

NGSS Connections

  • SEP: Analyzing Data
  • DCI: ESS2.A: Earth Materials and Systems
  • CCC: Cause and Effect

SDG Connections