All sonifications use the following instruments and algorithms to translate the data into musical elements to create a forest symphony.  To create the rhythm of the music, every hourly data observation is played back at the rate of 200ms per hour. Every day therefore goes by in 4.8 seconds.

 

DATA

INSTRUMENT

COMMENT

AUDIO SAMPLE

Temperature

Flute

Goes up and down on a daily basis, with warmer temperatures corresponding to higher notes

Precipitation

Cymbal

Cymbal crashes (containing higher frequencies for larger events)

Streamflow

Bass guitar and French Horn

Bass guitar and French Horn play only the stream flow data change points, plus every few seconds even if the data does not cause a different note to be produced. This creates a sustained feel in the bass without being overwhelming to the music by playing every single unchanging data point value.

Soil Water

Guitar

Accents the changing levels/notes by increasing the volume of them. As the level/note stays the same, each following guitar note is lowered in volume down to a minimum volume and then stays at that level until the next change in data triggers a new note.

Evapotranspiration

African marimba

Bass-tenor African marimba (sounds like a drum and goes up and down during the daylight hours of the summer).