Project by Zhentong Liu and Ke Yang
Abstract This study explores the innovative application of sonification, the process of converting data into sound, to represent and interpret environmental pollution data from the Baltic Sea. Through the sonification of various pollutants emitted by passenger ships, this project aims to provide a novel auditory experience that conveys the impact of pollution on the marine ecosystem. By transforming abstract pollution data into tangible soundscapes, the project seeks to foster a deeper emotional and cognitive connection with environmental issues. The soundscape incorporates ambient sounds reflecting the marine environment and specific sounds representing different pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter. These auditory cues are designed to vary in intensity and character in response to real-time and modeled pollution data, thereby offering listeners an immersive experience of environmental changes over time. The ultimate goal is to enhance public awareness and empathy towards environmental conservation, leveraging the human auditory system’s unique ability to interpret complex information through sound. This research contributes to the emerging field of auditory visualization by proposing an alternative approach to data interpretation, enriching the discourse on the relationship between sound, emotion, and environmental awareness.