One hundred and ninety-two bespoke precast concrete panels exhibit a gently undulating sea surface. The front elevation rain screens of Carnival House on West Quay Road, Southampton was described by my creative collaborator, Dr Paolo Cipollini, satellite oceanographer at the National Oceanographic Centre in Southampton as “the largest longitude / time plot in the world.” As an expression of scale and technology, the work also describes the awe and majesty of the oceans around the planet and our relentless search for understanding. 

This 210,000 square foot building, named Carnival House, designed by Aukett Fitzroy Robinson and built by Miller was to become the home of Carnival UK, the parent company of some of the most famous names in shipping including P&O Cruises, Cunard, and Princess Cruises, which all have vessels based in Southampton. A fitting addition to the mighty legacy of this coastal maritime city, so long associated with trans-Atlantic crossings. 

I had asked for the NOC and Dr Cipollini’s assistance in identifying sea surface topography, that might be used to create a softly undulating surface for the entrance façade of the building. As a satellite oceanographer, he was primarily involved with the detection and analysis of planetary waves aka Rossby Waves, which are known to impact global climate. These sub-surface oceanic waves display no more than a few centimetres of amplitude, the distance between the peak and trough of a wave. This artwork is based upon an amplitude of 8cms. 

‘Oceanic planetary waves or Rossby waves are of great importance for ocean circulation and climate. They transport momentum and information across the main oceanic basins, affect currents and delay the effects of climatic anomalies such as El Niño. Owing to their dimensions, and in particular their surface amplitude of just a few centimeters coupled with a wavelength of some hundreds of kilometers, they cannot be directly observed from ships. Recent advances in satellite oceanography, and in particular the accuracy of the retrieval of Sea Surface Height (SSH) by satellite-borne radar altimeters such as the TOPEX/POSEIDON and those on board ERS-1 and ERS-2, have allowed a detailed study of these waves and proven them to be almost ubiquitous and to travel faster than previously expected [1]. The signature of Rossby waves has also been observed in the global Sea Surface Temperature (SST) dataset.’ 

Detection of Rossby Waves in Ocean Colour Data Paolo Cipollini, Peter G. Challenor, David Cromwell, Graham D. Quartly and Stefano Raffaglio1 James Rennell Division for Ocean Circulation and Climate - Southampton Oceanography Centre.

The section of ocean surface data sampled by Dr Cipollini and his team was gathered by satellite Topex/Poseiden from the Indian Ocean between 1-11th May 1994. 

‘Launched in 1992, TOPEX/Poseidon was a joint venture between CNES and NASA that measured ocean surface topography to an accuracy of 4.2 cm, enabled scientists to forecast the 1997-1998 El Niño, and improved understanding of ocean circulation and its effect of global climate. While a 3-year prime mission was planned, with a 5-year store of expendables, TOPEX/Poseidon delivered an astonishing 13+ years of data from orbit. The mission ended in January 2006.’ NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology

A multi-disciplinary project team was brought together to create this piece of public art, commissioned by Development Securities plc and Elizabeth Smith, Public Art Officer for Southampton City Council. 

Skilled 3D modellers at SED Ltd worked with the raw satellite data, presented in a usable format by Dr Cipollini and the NOC. These 3D computer models formed the basis of 12 bespoke cnc routed timber master moulds created by Patterns and Moulds Ltd, from which rubber mats were made. The mats were supplied by P&M Ltd to precast concrete specialists Decomo, Belgium who then manufactured and delivered over 192 panels to site for installation.