How do you score non-narrative, atmospheric moments that drive emotion?

[Oliver_S]

I'm a film composer working on a documentary about climate change, and I'm studying iconic film scores to understand how to convey vast, emotional landscapes without dialogue. I keep returning to the minimalist dread in the "Jaws" theme versus the epic, hopeful sweep of John Williams' work on "Star Wars." For my project, I need to evoke both urgency and a sense of awe, and I'm struggling to find that balance in my own motifs. How do other composers approach scoring non-narrative, atmospheric moments that still need to drive emotion?