Articles | Volume 25, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4549-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4549-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Education and communication
| Highlight paper
| 
24 Aug 2021
Education and communication | Highlight paper |
| 24 Aug 2021
| 24 Aug 2021
Rainbow color map distorts and misleads research in hydrology – guidance for better visualizations and science communication
Michael Stoelzle
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Lina Stein
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Viewed
Total article views: 25,435 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 09 Mar 2021)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20,062 | 5,053 | 320 | 25,435 | 470 | 474 |
- HTML: 20,062
- PDF: 5,053
- XML: 320
- Total: 25,435
- BibTeX: 470
- EndNote: 474
Total article views: 18,872 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 24 Aug 2021)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15,102 | 3,482 | 288 | 18,872 | 450 | 461 |
- HTML: 15,102
- PDF: 3,482
- XML: 288
- Total: 18,872
- BibTeX: 450
- EndNote: 461
Total article views: 6,563 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 09 Mar 2021)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,960 | 1,571 | 32 | 6,563 | 20 | 13 |
- HTML: 4,960
- PDF: 1,571
- XML: 32
- Total: 6,563
- BibTeX: 20
- EndNote: 13
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 25,435 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 23,378 with geography defined
and 2,057 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 18,872 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 17,452 with geography defined
and 1,420 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 6,563 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 5,926 with geography defined
and 637 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
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| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
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Cited
22 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Improved solute transport modeling through joint estimation of hydraulic conductivity and dispersivities from tracer and ERT data Z. Han et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2024.104655
- Techniques for improved visualization and interpretation of seismic attributes using scientific colormaps H. Bedle & A. Moreno-Ward https://doi.org/10.1190/INT-2025-0003.1
- Color Quest: An interactive tool for exploring color palettes and enhancing accessibility in data visualization L. Nelli & M. Qureshi https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290923
- Highly variable content of fluorapatite-hosted COin the Upper Cretaceous/Paleogene phosphorites (Morocco) and implications for paleodepositional conditions J. Aubineau et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2022.120818
- Dronar—Geoforensic Search Sonar from a Drone A. Ruffell et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci1030018
- Open-source software for two-dimensional Fourier processing of gridded magnetic data R. Smith et al. https://doi.org/10.1190/tle41070454.1
- Denudation rates of carbonate coasts: Insights from in situ cosmogenic 36CL from Cuban coastal terraces P. Dunán‐Avila et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.70305
- Coloring Chemistry – Wie eine bewusste Farbwahl die chemische Kommunikation verbessert F. Kaspar & F. Crameri https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202114910
- Rainbow color map distorts and misleads research in hydrology – guidance for better visualizations and science communication M. Stoelzle & L. Stein https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4549-2021
- Wind tunnel investigation of the aerodynamic response of two 15 MW floating wind turbines A. Fontanella et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-7-1711-2022
- Visualization for better understanding global sensitivity analysis results: The case of safety assessment of radioactive waste disposal V. Svitelman & E. Saveleva https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107483
- GC Insights: Consistency in pyrocartography starts with color B. Hatchett https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-8-167-2025
- Turning implicit into explicit: does it matter if the rainbow color schemes are continuous or discrete? A case study with 2D and 3D permafrost visualizations I. Gołębiowska et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/15230406.2025.2467316
- Feasibility study of 2D Dixon-Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) of breast cancer E. Zanderigo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejro.2022.100453
- What’s wrong with the rainbow? An interdisciplinary review of empirical evidence for and against the rainbow color scheme in visualizations I. Gołębiowska & A. Çöltekin https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2022.10.002
- Coloring Chemistry—How Mindful Color Choices Improve Chemical Communication F. Kaspar & F. Crameri https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202114910
- Scientific maps should reach everyone: The cblindplot R package to let colour blind people visualise spatial patterns D. Rocchini et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2023.102045
- Alignment of strontium hexaferrite, by cold compaction of anisotropic non-magnetically interacting crystallites J. Thomas-Hunt et al. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2DT00062H
- Unravelling mystery of lake color changes on the Tibetan Plateau: From mechanisms to prediction S. Huan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113936
- Observation of spatial variation of pH in capacitive deionization P. Kovalsky et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2026.138839
- Reproducible visualization strategies for spatially varying coefficient (SVC) models: incorporating uncertainty and assessing replicability V. Irekponor & T. Oshan https://doi.org/10.1080/15230406.2025.2557949
- EventBox: A Novel Visual Encoding for Interactive Analysis of Temporal and Multivariate Attributes in Event Sequences L. Montana et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2025.3633904
22 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Improved solute transport modeling through joint estimation of hydraulic conductivity and dispersivities from tracer and ERT data Z. Han et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2024.104655
- Techniques for improved visualization and interpretation of seismic attributes using scientific colormaps H. Bedle & A. Moreno-Ward https://doi.org/10.1190/INT-2025-0003.1
- Color Quest: An interactive tool for exploring color palettes and enhancing accessibility in data visualization L. Nelli & M. Qureshi https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290923
- Highly variable content of fluorapatite-hosted COin the Upper Cretaceous/Paleogene phosphorites (Morocco) and implications for paleodepositional conditions J. Aubineau et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2022.120818
- Dronar—Geoforensic Search Sonar from a Drone A. Ruffell et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci1030018
- Open-source software for two-dimensional Fourier processing of gridded magnetic data R. Smith et al. https://doi.org/10.1190/tle41070454.1
- Denudation rates of carbonate coasts: Insights from in situ cosmogenic 36CL from Cuban coastal terraces P. Dunán‐Avila et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.70305
- Coloring Chemistry – Wie eine bewusste Farbwahl die chemische Kommunikation verbessert F. Kaspar & F. Crameri https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202114910
- Rainbow color map distorts and misleads research in hydrology – guidance for better visualizations and science communication M. Stoelzle & L. Stein https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4549-2021
- Wind tunnel investigation of the aerodynamic response of two 15 MW floating wind turbines A. Fontanella et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-7-1711-2022
- Visualization for better understanding global sensitivity analysis results: The case of safety assessment of radioactive waste disposal V. Svitelman & E. Saveleva https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107483
- GC Insights: Consistency in pyrocartography starts with color B. Hatchett https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-8-167-2025
- Turning implicit into explicit: does it matter if the rainbow color schemes are continuous or discrete? A case study with 2D and 3D permafrost visualizations I. Gołębiowska et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/15230406.2025.2467316
- Feasibility study of 2D Dixon-Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) of breast cancer E. Zanderigo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejro.2022.100453
- What’s wrong with the rainbow? An interdisciplinary review of empirical evidence for and against the rainbow color scheme in visualizations I. Gołębiowska & A. Çöltekin https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2022.10.002
- Coloring Chemistry—How Mindful Color Choices Improve Chemical Communication F. Kaspar & F. Crameri https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202114910
- Scientific maps should reach everyone: The cblindplot R package to let colour blind people visualise spatial patterns D. Rocchini et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2023.102045
- Alignment of strontium hexaferrite, by cold compaction of anisotropic non-magnetically interacting crystallites J. Thomas-Hunt et al. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2DT00062H
- Unravelling mystery of lake color changes on the Tibetan Plateau: From mechanisms to prediction S. Huan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113936
- Observation of spatial variation of pH in capacitive deionization P. Kovalsky et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2026.138839
- Reproducible visualization strategies for spatially varying coefficient (SVC) models: incorporating uncertainty and assessing replicability V. Irekponor & T. Oshan https://doi.org/10.1080/15230406.2025.2557949
- EventBox: A Novel Visual Encoding for Interactive Analysis of Temporal and Multivariate Attributes in Event Sequences L. Montana et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2025.3633904
Saved (final revised paper)
Discussed (final revised paper)
Latest update: 27 Jun 2026
Short summary
We found with a scientific paper survey (~ 1000 papers) that 45 % of the papers used rainbow color maps or red–green visualizations. Those rainbow visualizations, although attracting the media's attention, will not be accessible for up to 10 % of people due to color vision deficiency. The rainbow color map distorts and misleads scientific communication. The study gives guidance on how to avoid, improve and trust color and how the flaws of the rainbow color map should be communicated in science.
We found with a scientific paper survey (~ 1000 papers) that 45 % of the papers used rainbow...
