Vector and scalar field interpretation

Complex computations and simulations often produce multiple scalar and vector 3D fields which require display and interpretation. This paper presents an approach to imaging scalar fields based on an optical model with several interactive options. Vector fields are imaged with flow line and moving comets, and related to the scalar field using color coded 2D images. The 3D structure bounding the computed fields is imaged as a solid, and is a spatial reference for the data. The utility of the methods are illustrated with data from a large scale simulation of ocean circulation in the Norwegian-Greenland seas.