Consider using inpaint_nans a very nice tool designed to interpolate NaN elements in a 1-d or 2-d array using non-NaN elements. It can also extrapolate, as it does not use a triangulation of the data. It also allows different approaches to the interpolation.
I think this is (at least partially) what you seek.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.