earth

earth.nullschool.net is an interactive globe that visualizes global weather, ocean, and atmospheric data as a moving field of particles. Wind direction and speed appear as flowing currents across the planet, turning an abstract forecast model into something that can be read almost physically. The interface can switch between altitude levels, projections, dates, and overlays for temperature, pressure, precipitation, ocean currents, waves, and surface anomalies. Additional layers expose aerosols and pollutants including smoke, dust, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and several sizes of particulate matter.

The moving particles do real explanatory work. They show the curl of a cyclone, the reach of wildfire smoke, or the lazy bend of an ocean current before any number is opened. Forecast and observation systems feed the layers on different schedules. The compact menu, scientific abbreviations, and almost complete absence of hand-holding make the first visit slightly stern. This is also a visualization, not the place to check whether the local school is closing. Learn the controls and the planet stops looking like a collection of weather icons. It starts breathing.