Google Earth shows effects of climate change

By SmartPlanet on 21 May 2008, 10:48am

The Met Office Hadely Center, the British Antarctic Survey and the UK government introduced a Google Earth application on Monday that visualises the anticipated temperature changes from climate change over the next 100 years.

The animation, called 'Climate Change in Our World', uses a colour scheme to show the differences in temperatures laid over a Google Earth image. People can also click on icons on the image to get more information on how the data was compiled, stories from people affected by climate change and information on the projected regional impact of climate change.

Gordon Brown launched the initiative at the Google Zeitgeist conference. British Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said that the collaboration was done to help people understand climate change better, according to vnunet.com.

"This project shows the reality of climate change using estimates of the change in the average temperature where they live, and the impact it will have on people's lives all over the world, including here in Britain," he said. "By helping people to understand what climate change means for them and for the world we can mobilise the commitment we need to avoid the worst effects by taking action now."