Can an earthquake be visually interpreted and associated with a specific colour? This research adopts a cross-disciplinary approach, merging artistic and scientific perspectives, to explore how seismic events can be represented through chromatic scales. The project employs a mathematical algorithm that integrates the pH scale—commonly associated with chemical analysis—to assign earthquakes unique HEX colour codes based on their magnitude and depth.
The pH scale, comprising 15 colour boxes, is used in two opposing directions: one maps the earthquake’s magnitude (Richter scale), while the other represents its depth (in kilometres). Each coloured box contains 100 colour parts, enabling precise calculations to establish a visual link. The algorithm generates a graphical representation correlating these colours with their Light Reflectance Value (LRV), revealing patterns: earthquakes with high magnitudes and shallow depths appear as low-LRV shades (e.g., purple-red), signifying greater impact. In contrast, deeper and less intense quakes produce high-LRV colours (e.g., green), indicating lesser damage.
A Web App facilitates these calculations, offering an innovative visual framework for seismic data. By transforming quantitative data into chromatic representations, the project bridges science and art, encouraging new ways to interpret natural phenomena. This research highlights how technology and human creativity can converge, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and making complex scientific concepts accessible.
The study not only opens new avenues for data visualization but also challenges how we perceive natural forces, inviting further reflections on their aesthetic and cultural implications.

Authors:
Mario Savini, University of Camerino, Italy

About the Presenter(s)
Mario Savini is currently an adjunct professor of History of contemporary art at the University of Camerino (Italy) and the editor of Postinterface, the web magazine of digital science and culture.

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mario-Savini

Additional website of interest
https://mariosavini.com

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