Background and developer:
“In June 2005, Google launched a new application called ‘Google Earth’ released Google
Earth. According to their website, “Google Earth puts a planet's worth of imagery and
other geographic information right on your desktop.” Google uses sophisticated
streaming technology to deliver a 3D model of the earth featuring highly detailed satellite
imagery and relief mapping, and a wide variety of geographic information to your
desktop. One of Google Earth’s attractive features is that you don’t need to download
gigabytes of data before you use it. Once the free Google Earth viewer is installed, the
data is only streamed (downloaded) as you need it. These page contains a variety of
resources that are related to the study of physical geography and earth system science
(e.g., GEG 101 at MCC). This page is organized using the chapter structure in
Geosystems (6th Ed.) by R. W. Christopherson. It is meant to serve as a guide to relevant
Google Earth resources for instructors and students. These resources were developed
with the assistance of Ryan Brown and John Tarlton as part of a project sponsored by
Center for Teaching Excellence at Texas A&M University.”
Chapter 2
Urban Signatures: Sensible Heat Flux (WMS)
Description:
This visualization shows sensible heat flux predicted by the Land Information System (LIS) for a day in
June 2001. Only part of the global computation is shown, focusing on the highly urbanized northeast
corridor in the United States, including the cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and
Washington.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003100/a003157/a003157.kml
Urban Signatures: Latent Heat Flux (WMS)
Description:
This visualization shows latent heat flux predicted by the Land Information System (LIS) for a day in
June 2001. Only part of the global computation is shown, focusing on the highly urbanized northeast
corridor in the United States, including the cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and
Washington.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003100/a003156/a003156.kml
Urban Signatures: Thermal Radiation (WMS)
Description:
This visualization shows outgoing thermal radiation predicted by the Land Information System (LIS) for
a day in June 2001. Only part of the global computation is shown, focusing on the highly urbanized
northeast corridor in the United States, including the cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, and Washington.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003100/a003155/a003155.kml
Urban Signatures: Evaporation (WMS)
Description:
This visualization shows evaporation rates predicted by the Land Information System (LIS) for a day in
June 2001. Only part of the global computation is shown, focusing on the highly urbanized northeast
corridor in the United States, including the cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and
Washington.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003100/a003154/a003154.kml
Urban Signatures: Temperature (WMS)
Description:
This visualization shows average surface temperature predicted by the Land Information System (LIS)
for a day in June 2001. Only part of the global computation is shown, focusing on the highly urbanized
northeast corridor in the United States, including the cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, and Washington.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003100/a003152/a003152.kml
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Scene Identification Compared to Clouds (WMS)
Description:
By comparing the incoming solar radiation with the outgoing reflected and thermal radiation, it is
possible to identify the type of area being viewed, whether it be land, clouds, ocean, or ice. This scene
identification is used together with the radiation flux measurements to build up a complete picture of the
Earth's energy budget over time.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003100/a003179/index.html
Average Total-sky Albedo (WMS)
Description:
This animation shows the monthly average albedo from July, 2002 through June, 2004 as measured by
the CERES instrument.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003000/a003090/a003090.kml
Average Clear-sky Albedo (WMS)
Description:
This animation shows the monthly average clear-sky albedo from July, 2002 through June, 2004 as
measured by the CERES instrument.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003000/a003089/a003089.kml
Average Total-sky Outgoing Shortwave Flux (WMS)
Description:
This animation shows the monthly average outgoing shortwave radiation from July, 2002 through June,
2004 as measured by the CERES instrument. This is the sunlight that is directly reflected back into space
by clouds, ice, desert, and other physical areas on the Earth.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003000/a003097/a003097.kml
Average Clear-sky Outgoing Shortwave Flux (WMS)
Description:
This animation shows the monthly average clear-sky outgoing shortwave radiation from July, 2002
through June, 2004 as measured by the CERES instrument. This is the sunlight that is directly reflected
back into space by ice, desert, and other physical areas on the Earth when the sky is cloud-free.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003000/a003096/a003096.kml
Average Total-sky Incoming Solar Flux (WMS)
Description:
This animation shows the monthly average incoming solar radiation from July, 2002 through June, 2004
as measured by the CERES instrument.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003000/a003095/a003095.kml
Average Total-sky Net Radiant Flux (WMS)
Description:
This animation shows the monthly average net radiant flux from July, 2002 through June, 2004 as
measured by the CERES instrument. This is the incoming radiation minus the outgoing reflected or
thermal energy given off by areas of the Earth.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003000/a003094/a003094.kml
Average Clear-sky Net Radiant Flux (WMS)
Description:
This animation shows the monthly clear-sky average net radiant flux from July, 2002 through June, 2004
as measured by the CERES instrument. This is the incoming radiation minus the outgoing reflected or
thermal energy given off by areas of the Earth when the sky is cloud-free.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003000/a003093/a003093.kml
Average Total-sky Outgoing Longwave Flux (WMS)
Description:
This animation shows the monthly average outgoing longwave radiation from July, 2002 through June,
2004 as measured by the CERES instrument. This is the thermal radiation given off by the warm Earth.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003000/a003092/a003092.kml
Average Clear-sky Outgoing Longwave Flux (WMS)
Description:
This animation shows the monthly average clear-sky outgoing longwave radiation from July, 2002
through June, 2004 as measured by the CERES instrument. This is the thermal radiation given off by the
warm Earth when the sky is cloud free.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003000/a003091/a003091.kml
Chapter 5
Ocean Temperature
Description:
Near real time ocean data.
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/335650/an/0/page/0/vc/1
Chapter 6
Transatlantic Dust from North Africa (WMS)
Description:
This animation shows aerosol index over northern Africa and the Atlantic Ocean from July 1 through
July 31, 2000. Desert storms in northern Africa raise dust that is carried in the upper atmosphere across
the Atlantic Ocean.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003100/a003133/a003133.kml
Chapter 7
Global Cloud Map
Description:
This is a near real-time representation of the entire globe of clouds (updated every 3 hours)
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=373671
Chapter 8
Intense Convective Storms Over Oklahoma, 1998/06/19
Description:
A 3-D animation of intense storms that occurred in Oklahoma in 1998.
http://tsdis.gsfc.nasa.gov/tsdis/gis/data/1998_06_19.3204.oklahoma.kmz
Destructive Squall Line Over Florida, 1998/03/09
Description:
A 3-D animation of a squall line produces by a cold front over Florida in 1998.
http://tsdis.gsfc.nasa.gov/tsdis/gis/data/1998_03_09.1600.squall.kmz
Intense Isolated Convection over Africa, 2005/09/10
Description:
A 3-D animation of an intense storm over Africa in 2005.
http://tsdis.gsfc.nasa.gov/tsdis/gis/data/2005_09_10.44572.africa.kmz
Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico, 2005/08/28
Description:
A 3-D animation of Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico in 2005
http://tsdis.gsfc.nasa.gov/tsdis/gis/data/2005_08_28.44361.katrina.kmz
Global Lightning Accumulation (WMS)
Description:
This animation shows an accumulation of daily lightning climatology values for a typical year.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003100/a003143/a003143.kml
Snow Cover over North America during the Winter of 2001-2002 (WMS)
Description:
This animation shows snow cover over North America during the winter of 2001-2002.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003000/a003027/a003027.kml
Chapter 9
Soil Moisture
Description:
This drought analysis is based on comparing the current soil moisture against the 54-yr retrospective
climatology. The climatology is developed separately for each grid cell (> 55,000 cells in the USA). The
plots shows the percentile of current soil moisture with respect to the 54-yr climatology defined as all
values in a 11-day sampling window
Potential classroom uses:
Compare this kml file with Figure 18.9 (global soil taxonomy) from the text. What types of soils are
currently experiencing drought/wetness? What properties of these soils might be contributing to the
current moisture conditions?
Water Table Height
Description:
KML file displaying Connecticut groundwater info, provided by the USGS. Contains record of water
table height, depth of well, land elevation and aquifer type.
Potential classroom uses:
Which wells currently show the greatest drop in water table height? Are there any geographic patterns to
overpumping in this state?
http://ct.water.usgs.gov/data/google/google.htm
Google Earth Water Supply Forecast Layer
Description:
Building upon the interactive visualization of SNOTEL snowpack and precipitation information, this
complementary layer displays hydrologic outlooks produced cooperatively by the NRCS and National
Weather Service (NWS).
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/wsf/earth/index.html
Review Questions for Chapter 9:
Questions # 10, 13
Review Figures 9.12 & 9.13
How can Google Earth data be used to classify and predict drought?
Chapter 10
Climate Change
Description:
Brief, informative look at some global impacts of climate change.
Potential classroom uses:
Pick a particular region of the world and describe the impact that global climate change might have in
this region.
Tropospheric Ozone Impacts Global Climate Warming
Description:
Evaluation of how ozone in the lowest part of the atmosphere has changes over the last 100 years.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003300/a003338/a003338.kml
Climate Change (Polar regions)
Description:
National Snow and Ice Data Center. Contains data viewable in GE, and links to parent data.
Potential classroom uses:
Why does sea ice extent and thickness display such interannual variability?
http://nsidc.org/data/virtual_globes/
Climate Change (Canada)
Description:
Peatland sensitivity to climate warming map. Shows vulnerbility of permafrost in Canada to melting due
to global warming.
Potential classroom uses:
What problems does permafrost melting present? Can all permafrost melting be contributed to global
climate change?
Global Atmospheric Carbon Monoxide in 2000 (WMS)
Description:
This visualization shows global carbon monoxide concentrations at the 500 millibar altitude in the
atmosphere from March 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000. Areas in red have 200 parts per billion of
carbon monoxide or more at that altitude (around 5,500 meters), while areas in blue are 50 parts per
billion or less.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a002900/a002900/a002900.kml
Atmospheric Water Vapor during the 1998 La Niña (WMS)
Description:
This visualization shows the global water vapor distribution in gray and white and the global
precipitation in yellow every hour from August 30, 1998 to September 20, 1998. The afternoon
thunderstorms in the tropics are seen as a flashing yellow region that moves from east to west, following
the sun.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a002900/a002901/a002901.kml
Atmospheric Water Vapor during the 1997-1998 El Niño (WMS)
Description:
This visualization shows the global water vapor distribution in gray and white and the global
precipitation in yellow every hour from December 20, 1997 to January 14, 1998. The afternoon
thunderstorms in the tropics are seen as a flashing yellow region that moves from east to west, following
the sun.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a002900/a002902/a002902.kml
Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies during El Nino/La Nina Event of 1997-1998 (WMS)
Description:
This animation shows El Nino and La Nina from 1997 through 1998. Each frame is a ten-day average of
sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies--that is, of differences from normal SST values. The area
shown in the animation is the Pacific ocean from -20.5 to +20.5 latitude and +120.5 to +289.5 East
longitude.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003100/a003135/a003135.kml
Sea Surface Height Anomalies during El Nino/La Nina Event of 1997-1998 (WMS)
Description:
This animation shows El Nino and La Nina from 1997 through 1998. Each frame is a ten-day average of
sea surface height (SSH) anomalies—that is, of differences from normal SSH values. The area shown in
the animation is the Pacific ocean from -20.5 to +20.5 latitude and +120.5 to +289.5 East longitude.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003100/a003142/a003142.kml
Wind Anomalies during El Nino/La Nina Event of 1997-1998 (WMS)
Description:
This animation shows El Nino and La Nina from 1997 through 1998. Each frame is a ten-day average of
wind anomalies--that is, of differences from normal wind velocities. The area shown in the animation is
the Pacific ocean from -21 to +21 latitude and +120 to +290 East longitude.
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003100/a003171/a003171.kml
Review Questions for Chapter 10:
Questions # 3, 4, 14, 22
Review Figure 10.5
Chapter 11
Sediment Deposition
Description:
Monthly global distribution of calcium carbonate on the seafloor (from 2000-2004). Data provided by
NASA (Terra satellite).
Potential classroom uses:
How does calcite production (and subsequent deposition) vary throughout the year? What spatial
patterns are observable? Which regions exhibit the most and the least change throughout the year? What
climatic factors might influence calcite production? Is the distribution pattern changing over this time
period? If so, what might be some of the causes of this change?
Review Questions for Chapter 11:
Questions # 11, 13, 15, 20, 21, 22 (refer to USGS earthquake data in ch. 12 when answering 20-22)
Review Figure 11.1
Chapter 12
Earthquakes
Description:
KML file displaying recent earthquakes (past seven days), put out by the USGS. Contains magnitude,
depth, and some “shakemap” data. Also displays plate boundaries, color coded by boundary type.
Potential classroom uses:
Compare the location of earthquakes to plate boundaries. How is earthquake depth related to boundary
type? What types of plate boundaries seem to produce the greatest magnitude earthquakes?
Faults
Description:
Regional fault structure of California and Nevada, available for several different time periods. Data
provided by the USGS.
Potential classroom uses:
These could be viewed in conjunction with the USGS earthquake KML (listed above). Which faults have
produced earthquakes recently?
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/qfaults/google.php
faults link#2
Geologic Formations
Description:
The first file is a Geologic map of Ohio, showing ages of rock strata (Map provided by the Ohio
Geological Survey). The second link contains an interesting debate within Google Earth Community
about the “black belt prairie” of Alabama, which may be related to chalk deposits in the area.
Potential classroom uses:
Good examples of regional scale geologic maps, but not much potential for manipulating within Google
Earth. Probably best used as in-class illustrations.
Ohio Geology
Alabama Geology
Review Questions for Chapter 12:
Questions # 8, 24
Chapter 13
Karst Topography
Description:
KML file displaying karst information in Russian city. Most of the descriptions are in Russian.
Potential classroom uses:
If you can make sense of this KML, it might be useful for discussion of karst topography and the effects
of underlying karst on cities.
Lahars
Description:
Map overlay of Mt. Ranier showing historic mudflows and lahars in the surrounding region. Also shows
potential for volcanic ash cover.
Potential classroom uses:
Might be useful to illustrate the area of influence of major volcanic events, but is limited to just one
volcano.
Landslides
Description:
Thermal image of landside in Pakistan captured by NASA’s Terra satellite. Leave terrain layer on. Red
represents vegetation, gray area is absent of vegetation (landslide area).
Potential classroom uses:
Another interesting application of the Terra satellite. However, not much additional information about
this landslide is provided by this image. Can anything else about topography or geomorphology be
inferred from this? This post also contains a link to a layer showing surrounding towns.
Land Subsidence
Description:
Map shows land subsidence in London. Legend is difficult to read, and does not allow much
manipulation of data.
Potential classroom uses:
Where in the city is subsidence the most severe? Describe what impact the Thames river might have on
subsidence. What about human causes of subsidence?
Review Questions for Chapter 13:
Questions # 14, 15, 17, 21, 22, 29
Chapter 14
US Streamflow
Description:
This is a KML file of a USGS real-time streamgage map. Each gage is colored in terms of flow
conditions. This file is re-created every hour. Each gage also contains a link to more extensive data
trends.
Potential classroom uses:
Might be useful to calculate drought/hrdrologic balance for single stream or entire watershed. Could also
be correlated with other drought indicators, such as soil moisture or vegetation cover.
Example Exercise:
Choose a stream in the US for which at least 3 gage measurements are available. What is the current
discharge at each gage, and how does it compare with the 66-year median? What has been the trend
within the past week at each gage? Does the USGS classify your stream as being above, below, or at
normal discharge conditions?
Open up the soil moisture file (ch. 9) and compare the current streamflow values on your river with the
current soil moisture conditions. Are there any portions of the river that seem at risk for dropping below
normal conditions? What changes in streamflow do you predict in upcoming weeks? Does streamflow
influence soil moisture or vice-versa?
Australia Streamflow
Description:
Animation which displays streamflow data graphically. Data set is from January 1989 to December 2003
in Australia's largest river system, the Murry-Darling Basin.
Potential Classroom uses:
Rotate Google Earth towards the horizontal to be able to compare flow conditions from different months.
How does streamflow appear to vary throughout the year? Does the annual cycle appear regular or
sporadic?
Review Questions for Chapter 14:
Review Figures 14.5 & 14.30
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Tsunamis
Description:
KML file that displays the tsunami inundation line on the Oregon coast. Produced by the Oregon
Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI).
Potential classroom uses:
This is an intriguing use of data in GE; might this tsunami inundation line be extended to cover the entire
west coast? Every coast at risk for tsunamis in the world? The DOGAMI press release has this to say
about its methods of developing this information: “Each map has a line that shows how far inland and
uphill a tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.8 undersea earthquake is expected to go. . . The line was
developed from studies of prehistoric tsunami deposits found along the coast, computer modeling by Dr.
George Priest of DOGAMI and Dr. Antonio Baptista of the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science &
Technology, and scientific studies of other tsunamis that occurred in Nicaragua and Japan.”
A more detailed explanation of this methodology is given in a 100 page report, Explanation of Mapping
Methods and Use of the Tsunami Maps of the Oregon Coast.
Coastal Landforms
Description:
Several KMLs. US coastal bathymetry data for use in google earth
http://estuarinebathymetry.noaa.gov/finddata.html
http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/flash/southFLshelf.html
http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/flash/eastFLshelf.html
http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/flash/northFLshelf.html
Global Sea Level Rise
Description:
This KML file shows the potential for coastal inundation by a rise in global sea levels. Projections are
made for up to a 6 meter rise in sea level.
Review Questions for Chapter 16:
Questions #13, 14, 18
Review Figure 16.12
Chapter 18
Soil Taxonomy
Description:
KML file that displays soil types. The global overlay is low resolution, but you can narrow it down to
specific countries and regions.
Potential classroom uses:
Pick a region of the world and describe the soil types present (refer to table 18.4 in the text for more
information). What types of physical processes contribute to the distribution of soils in this region?
What might be some appropriate land uses for this region?
Review Question for Chapter 18:
Questions #1, 11, 19, 23
Review Figures 18.8 & 18.9
Review Table 18.4
Compare the soil regions of the US with their current relative soil moisture content (ch. 9). What types
of soils are currently experiencing drough/wetness? What properties of these soils might be contributing
to the current conditions?
Chapter 20
Vegetation Cover (NDVI)
Description:
NASA animation in Google Earth which uses NDVI anomalies to show drought in the Western US. The
animation proceeds in ten-day intervals from 1999 to 2003. In 2002, severe drought is observable in the
Midwest.
Potential classroom uses:
According to the NDVI, which areas of the Western US experienced the driest, wettest, most variable,
and least variable conditions during the period of this animation? What are the climatic factors that
might have led to these spatial patterns?
Vegetation Cover (EVI)
Description:
This file contains global images of the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) from 2000-2003.
Potential classroom uses:
This would be a lot more helpful if there was some way to show EVI anomalies from normal, although
there is still a short record for EVI. Even so, this is a good collection of monthly vegetation images that
might be of some use for analysis.
See Appendix 1 for differences between EVI and NDVI
Vegetation Change
Description:
This is a post on Google Earth Community showing vegetation changes as represented by the Normalized
Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI- measures how dense and green plant leaves are) between 1999 and
2006 on island of Hispanola.
Potential classroom uses:
How is vegetation changing across this region? What geographic/climatic features might contribute to
vegetation cover?
Review Questions for Chapter 20:
Questions #4, 6, 16, 19
Review Figure 20.3
Review Table 20.1
Look at figure 20.3 in the text (global terrestrial biomes). Match the regions of this map to NDVI or EVI
images in Google Earth (vegetation cover is also shown in figure 19.7). How do these figures correlate
with each other? What does the map in the book tell us about the reasons for the spatial variations in
vegetation cover? Which biomes exhibit the greatest vegetative health on a seasonal or annual basis?
What are the climatic factors that contribute to the most productive biomes? Do you see evidence of
human alteration of any biomes?
See also:
p.646 questions #9 & 10
Chapter 21
Urban Land Use
Description:
Interesting delineation & comparison of various urban land uses in New York and Paris.
Potential classroomm uses:
Maybe useful to calculate area, but are there any geographical implications to these? Probably more
relevant to urban planning.
Resource Conservation
Description:
Google Earth community post concerning gas drilling in the Upper Green River Valley. Contains several
google earth placemarks, images, and a video
presentation which incorporates Google Earth flyovers. Multi-faceted and interesting look at the impact
of development in this region.
Potential Classroom uses:
How might GE be used to support conservation in other areas? What advantages does GE provide in
presenting this type of information?
Dessication
Description:
This file contains images showing the shrinkage of the Aral Sea (1960, 2000-2006). Also displays
changes in area covered by the sea for each year.
Potential classroom uses:
Follow the link to read about the causes and impacts of this environmental disaster. Could this be related
to global climate change or is it mostly a regional phenomena?
Appendix 1
http://tbrs.arizona.edu/forest/projects/evi.htm
EVI (formula, technical descriptions)
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/MeasuringVegetation/measuring_vegetation_1.html
EVI and NDVI (comparative strengths and weaknesses)
NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio Website:
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/documents/available.html