Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons^™

Strokes For Representing Univariate Vector Field Maps, David Fowler, Colin Ware

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping

Particle systems make an excellent tool for creating tracks (which we call strokes) in vector fields. The question addressed in this paper is how such tracks should be made to vary in size and colour in order to reveal properties such as local direction and strength of the field. We find that for strokes that vary from large to small, direction is indicated by the large end. We also find that for strokes that vary in colour, the colour of the background is the most important determinant of perceived direction.