1. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Effective Visual Aids Eye Eyewall Rainband Maximum Winds are ~1 km above the surface Eyewall Rainband MM5 Simulation of Hurricane Andrew Courtesy of Da-Lin Zhang at Univ. Maryland

2. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Effective Visual Aids Know your Audience and the Purpose for your visual aids: One-time presentation at a scientific meeting? One-time presentation to a local group (non-scientific)? Lecture and reference material for a group?

3. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Effective Visual Aids Limit the Text and Maximize the Imagery Each slide should contain only one figure or table with a few lines of text to illustrate one idea / concept General Rule: Readability is maximized by following the “7 x 7 Rule”: No more that seven words per line and 7 lines per slide

4. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Effective Visual Aids Limit the Text and Maximize the Imagery global mean radiative forcing The global mean radiative forcing experienced by the Earth system can be divided into many categories. For each, we can approximate the sign and magnitude of the forcing, but at a variety of confidence levels. Long-lived Greenhouse Gases (CO2, NO2, etc): Produce between +0.34 and +1.66 W/m 2 of forcing on the global scale and we have a high level of scientific understanding (i.e. confidence) in this estimate Ozone: Stratospheric ozone produces a -0.05 W/m 2 of forcing, and tropospheric ozone produces +0.35 W/m 2 on the global scale and we have a medium level of scientific understanding. Stratospheric Water Vapor and Methane: Produces +0.07 W/m 2 of forcing on the global scale and we have a low level of scientific understanding in this estimate Surface Albedo: Produces between -0.2 and +0.1 W/m 2 of forcing on the regional scale and we have a medium-low level of scientific confidence in this estimate Aerosols: Produce between -0.5 and -0.7 W/m 2 of forcing on the global scale and we have a low level of scientific understanding in this estimate Linear Contrails: Produce +0.01 W/m2 of forcing on the regional scale and we have a low level of scientific confidence in this estimate

5. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Effective Visual Aids Limit the Text and Maximize the Imagery

6. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Effective Visual Aids Visual aids should be readable for all audience members: General Rule: If you can read all aspect of the slide on the computer screen when standing 4-5 feet away, then the font size is adequate Avoid large (>36) and small (<16) font sizes Can you see me now

7. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Effective Visual Aids Use Color Effectively: Colors can be used to emphasize a particular point Colors can be used to distinguish between two categories: Warm and Cold Use “cool’ colors (blues and greens) for backgrounds Use “warm” colors (reds and yellows) for foreground White backgrounds with black text can cause eye strain… GOOD Shows warm foreground color on cool background color BAD Shows cool foreground color on warm background color

8. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Effective Visual Aids Visual aids should look professional:

9. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Effective Visual Aids Do not show “corny” images Do not use ClipArt Imagery should illustrate / demonstrate a familiar concept Imagery should supplement your oral presentation

10. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Effective Visual Aids Avoid “grainy” images Scan a higher quality image Search the internet for adapted versions Contact the author to obtain an original Adapt the figure yourself From Landsea and Gray (1993)

11. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Effective Visual Aids Avoid distracting images: Pressure Gradient Force Coriolis Force Centrifugal Force Air Motion L

12. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Non-Effective Visual Aids Avoid video clips that are too long or move too fast: The Last ImageBad Movie

13. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Non-Effective Visual Aids Avoid copyright theft Easy: Simply acknowledge your source (either on the slide or verbally) Note: Use of imagery and video for educational purpose is permitted by law if no more than 10% of the original content is shown and no profit is gained from its showing Photograph courtesy of Brian McNoldyFrom Bluestein (1993)

14. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Effective Visual Aids Avoid too many slides: General Rule: One slide per minute in a well rehearsed presentation 15 minute presentations should not have more than 15 slides Too many slides result in long presentations that are often ended abruptly. Nobody likes a long presentation…

15. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Example: An Effective Slide Downslope Winds: Chinook Winds: Temperature of the downslope flowing air is warmer than the air it replaces Warming winds → dry adiabatic descent Examples: Santa Ana (CA) Sundowner (Santa Barbara, CA) Föhn (Alps) zonda and pulche (Andes) kachachan (Sri Lanka) Bora Winds: Temperature of the downslope flowing air is colder than the air it replaces Cooling winds → evaporational cooling

16. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Mountain Wave Clouds: If the air parcel forced aloft is moist enough to achieve saturation (or cloud drops form) Also called “lenticular” clouds Multiple rows of clouds can form downstream of a mountain range The cloud rows are often oriented parallel to the mountain range θ EL θ+Δθ Lenticular Clouds Examle: An Effective Slide

17. Earth Science SeminarM. D. Eastin Example: An Effective Slide Tornadoes form from the titling and stretching of horizontal vorticity by a strong updraft