Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
HESS
Articles | Volume 25, issue 8
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.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4549-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 25, issue 8
Education and communication
 | Highlight paper
 | 
24 Aug 2021
Education and communication | Highlight paper |  | 24 Aug 2021

Rainbow color map distorts and misleads research in hydrology – guidance for better visualizations and science communication

Michael Stoelzle and Lina Stein

Viewed

Total article views: 22,365 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
17,591 4,503 271 22,365 375 381
  • HTML: 17,591
  • PDF: 4,503
  • XML: 271
  • Total: 22,365
  • BibTeX: 375
  • EndNote: 381
Views and downloads (calculated since 09 Mar 2021)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 09 Mar 2021)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 22,365 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 20,412 with geography defined and 1,953 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 26 Nov 2025
Download
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.
Read more
Share