1. A computer system comprising: a processor; a memory device coupled to the processor; a pointing device coupled to the processor; a display system coupled to the processor, the display system shows a cursor whose position is based on position data generated by the pointing device; the memory device stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: display output data of an earth model in a first pane on the display system, the output data indexed based on time; monitor cursor location relative to the data in the first pane; and when the cursor overlays a particular datum; display a state of the earth model in a second pane on the display device, the second pane distinct from the first pane, and the state of the earth model displayed at a modeled time associated with the particular datum.