WINTER 2008 PRE-COLLEGE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM - Student ...

DISPLAYING REGIONAL INFORMATION ON THE GLOBAL MICROSCOPE IN
PICTURE-IN-PICTURE FORMAT
Pedro Jiménez and Jesús O’neill, Bautista de Puerto Nuevo Academy, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Research Mentors: Dr. César Bandera, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey;
Daniel Carrión, Universidad Metropolitana, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Research Assistant: Carlos C. Rivera and Carlos Ortiz, Universidad Metropolitana, San Juan
Puerto Rico.
The purpose of this research was to visualize data collected from NASA TERRA satellites. The
team’s objective was to present the Earth’s surface on the global microscope and display brief
information on several countries along with videos on landmarks and other important locations in
a picture-in-picture format. The way that format works is that once a country is chosen, a pop up
box will appear near it showing the country’s information, hence the name “picture-in-picture.”
The idea is to create a dynamic and entertaining learning experience which incorporates visuals
along with sounds to educate people in a way that’s interesting and appealing.
SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE
Gilmarie López and Priscilla M. Milán, Bautista De Puerto Nuevo Academy, San Juan, Puerto
Rico.
Research Mentors: Dr. César Bandera, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey;
Daniel Carrión, Universidad Metropolitana, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Research Assistant: Carlos C. Rivera and Carlos Ortiz, Universidad Metropolitana, San Juan
Puerto Rico.
The purpose of this project was to study the different sea surface temperatures through the year. It
was conducted from January through September 2008. Temperatures vary in different parts of the
ocean. In some parts of the ocean it is colder than in others. This data are used to help predict
weather patterns, to track ocean currents, and to monitor El Niño and La Niña. Data from the
NASA TERRA satellite was used to visualize the sea surface temperatures. The Windows Movie
Maker software was used to make a video including different pictures of sea surface temperatures
making them animated which helped study monthly temperature changes. The global microscope
was then used as a tool to display these images in a user-friendly environment.
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