A new NASA program lets you tune in to sounds of the ocean

No seashell required.

A NASA scientist and his programmer brother have made an online program that turns ocean data into sound.

The pair have worked on the project for the past 18 months, hoping to use it to encourage people to “appreciate the connectivity of our Earth’s ocean.”

“We wanted to tell a story to appreciate the connectivity of our Earth’s ocean through this aural sonic experience,” said co-creator and Goddard scientist Ryan Vandermeulen. “We use music because it’s engaging and dynamic and connects us across a wide variety of backgrounds.”

The platform merges musical notes with ocean colour data from swirls off the coast of Río de la Plata, the Bering Sea, the Coral Sea, and The Indian ocean of northwestern Australia.

According to NASA, studying ocean colour “helps scientists gain a better understanding of phytoplankton and their impact on the Earth system.” Analysing ocean colour data can provide an insight into the health of our waters.

Listen to some of the musical results above, and head to NASA for more info.