Maps made by earth-orbiting satellites often contain blank spots where data are missing. Scientists at Ohio State University and their colleagues have created software that fills in the blank spots, using the data from the rest of the map. The first part of this animation shows a satellite remotely sensing a day’s worth of ozone data (October 5, 1988). Areas of blue indicate a thinner ozone layer; the regions of missing data are colored white.

The second part of the animation shows the South Pole, with some ozone data missing. First, the software “zooms out” to calculate values for the missing data at low resolution, then it zooms back in to refine the calculations at successively higher resolutions. The ozone hole (colored blue) is apparent.

The last part of the animation shows the filled-in global map. The software also calculates a measure of map precision, so scientists can gauge the quality of the data they use to construct computer models of Earth’s climate system. The filled-in global map fades out, showing a measure of map precision; it is apparent that the regions of lower precision (colored green through red, with red indicating lowest precision) coincide with the regions of missing data. This fades back to the filled-in global map.