Variable 4: A Dynamical Composition for Weather Systems

Variable 4 is a multichannel sound installation that uses meteorological sensors and a multi-layered array of algorithmic processes to transform weather data into musical patterns in real time. This paper describes the work in detail, outlining its historical context, systems infrastructure and installation specifics. The piece is discussed in relation to sonification and environmental installation, and observations are made on the process of siting a complex sound work in the natural world.