Video demonstrates trajectory of particles traveling the earth

The video above looks like a living canvas, painted by none other than Vincent van Gogh. Looking at the way colors move over the globe, it is almost impossible not to remember the "Starry Night" painting, which was recently recreated with pictures taken by the Hubble telescope. But what we can see in the video embedded in this article is as impressive as art: science.

Compiled by NASA, this short film shows how certain particles move on our planet. In red, for example, we can see dust being scattered by the wind. Already in blue are the sea salt particles, which travel the earth with the help of cyclones. Released from volcanoes, sulfate is displayed in white, while carbon, in green, comes from fires and burns.

The video demonstrates how the particles moved from August 2006 to April 2007, and while this is just a computer model, simulations like these help scientists better understand how the earth's climate works.