Photo: Google Earth
Cover Photo: Google Earth

Google Earth's latest programme update has allowed us to see the alarming effects of climate change up close

Google Earth, the reverent representation of our planet, had always given us a chance to see our world from space. Exploring the world through the screen has never been so easy. But years after this computer programme first launched a 3D model of the world for the whole globe to see, the team behind Google Earth has announced a new update—and we're having feelings about it.

Tatler Asia
Photo: Google Earth
Above The timelapse feature on Google Earth. | Photo: Google Earth

Google Earth's new timelapse feature is momentous. Where else have you seen a free and accurate depiction of earth's forests, waters, glaciers and the like?

Google timelapse, a zoomable video containing over 15 million images, allows anyone to see gradual changes that have occurred in different parts of the globe since 1984. Most of the images were taken from a joint USGS/NASA Earth observation program called Landsat.

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Tatler Asia
Photo: Google Earth
Above Photo: Google Earth

Although the new feature is a majestic sight to see, we should not dismiss the reason for this project: to show the real and alarming effects of climate change. Google partnered with Carnegie Mellon University CREATE Lab to show the delicateness of the ecosystem. In order to raise more awareness and inspire change among the viewers of Google Earth's timelapse, users can now choose between viewing changes occurring in forests, energy, and the vast waters of the earth.

Maybe then, people will start to realise how much time we have left to save the only planet we got.


View the Google Earth timelapse here.

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