Tropical Climate Forensics draws inspiration from Derek Tumala’s residency at the Manila Observatory, one of the oldest meteorological observatories in South-east Asia, built by Jesuit fathers in 1865. Tumala’s research into the meteorological and seismographic archives, current data and future forecasts sheds light on shifting patterns of weather and climate in the Philippines and the region.
Using the form of a diorama as a model, Tumala’s online project explores the climate crisis across the past, present and a speculative future. He creates a taxonomy specific to the Philippines as a tropical site, with biomes to represent his research into the climate crisis.
The historical data of atmospheric and earth science in Tumala’s project provides an understanding of how the climate crisis has evolved, and how nature has issued warnings over several decades. His work presents a heating planet in the context of the Philippines’ position close to the Equator and within the Ring of Fire, a string of volcanoes and sites of seismic activity around the edges of the Pacific Ocean.
The climate crisis is only ever real to Filipinos when confronted by extreme weather events in the region: tsunamis caused by earthquakes, crop destruction due to off-season super typhoons, floods, storm surges and long-dormant volcanoes erupting due to global warming.
Tumala’s work enables the audience to go back and forth across time and dioramic space, and delve into historical precedents of weather events, click on more recent weather disruptions and events, then move forward to see how current actions are affecting the future. (The Manila Observatory is a Jesuit scientific research institution that advocates a science-based approach to sustainable development and poverty reduction. Inspired by Ignatian spirituality, the Manila Observatory is committed to a scientific culture in its regional and global context through research excellence in environmental and pre-disaster science particularly in the areas of atmospheric studies, solid earth dynamics, instrumentation, and applied geomatics.)
The project is part of the World Weather Network — a global coalition of 28 arts agencies around the world formed in response to the climate crisis.
Click here to access Tropical Climate Forensics
Tropical Climate Forensics is in a format of a web application similar to a video game using the Unity 3D with WebGL platform that is playable in desktop (dynamic) and mobile (limited). Its gameplay is like an exploratory sandbox with no predetermined goal. In the Forensics grid are the biomes, or dioramas that makes up the Tropical Climate Forensics. These biomes will be released over a period of time. In exploring the biome’s terrain, the player will be able to learn, experience and navigate the climate crisis through gameplay and research content.
This is the first release, beta version 1.0
To experience the web application in its best quality, please use Chrome or Firefox browser on your desktop.
Credits:
Manila Observatory
DOST-PAGASA
Masungi Georeserve
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities
Oscar M. Lopez Center
Lopez Museum and Library
Ateneo Main Archives
Tropical Climate Forensics Team
3D Assets Designer: Justin Aringo Lanuza
Web Developer: Bruce Allarey
Research Assistant: Maria Cleofe Marpa-Ferrer
Sound Design: Mario Consunji
Tropical Climate Forensics is supported by the British Council’s Creative Commissions for Climate Action, a global programme exploring climate change through art, science and digital technology.
