EXPLORING PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CONNECTIONS USING ISOMAP

Environmental chemistry data provide a wealth of information on Earth system processes, but perhaps one of the most general and widely useful applications of such data is in to identify connectivity within systems. Chemical signatures have been used to establish hydrological connectivity, identify the provenance of geological materials, artefacts and forensic evidence, and trace the migration of humans and other animals. IsoMAP (Isoscape Modeling, Analysis, and Prediction; http://isomap.org) is a cyberinfrastructure system that our team has developed to facilitate and promote the use of geochemical data, specifically stable isotope ratio data, in connectivity research and related outreach and education. The IsoMAP environment tightly integrates database and data management resources with analytical tools, structured visualizations, a user workspace/account system, and a streamlined and intuitive browser-based interface. This integration facilitates the development and execution of end-to-end research workflows, and together with the use of familiar, standardized design elements and modular components has been valuable in ensuring that the system is broadly accessible to non-specialists. We will highlight several case studies, based on research and outreach activities conducted by IsoMAP’s >1,400 users since its initial release in 2011, that illustrate the potential and drawbacks of the system’s design. We will also introduce a new phase of development that focuses on ‘opening up’ IsoMAP to serve as a platform for customizable specialist applications, with an initial focus on animal migration and hydroclimatological research.