Google Earthâs stunning new feature is a timelapse of the entire frigginâ planet
Watch the planet change from 1984 to 2020 Napier Lopez is a writer based in New York City. He s interested in all things tech, science, and photography related, and likes to yo-yo in
(show all) Napier Lopez is a writer based in New York City. He s interested in all things tech, science, and photography related, and likes to yo-yo in his free time. Follow him on Twitter.
Google has worked to refine the accuracy, visuals, and functionality of Google Earth over the years, making it the closest many of us will ever get to travel the world. But today Google Earth is getting its biggest update in years with the addition of one new layer: time.
USA TODAY
Google Earth lets users visit any place on the planet. Now, you can see how those places have changed over time.
Google announced an update Thursday to the program which will allow users to explore the evolution of a location in timelapse form.
The company says they have compiled 24 million satellite photos from the past 37 years to create its Timelapse experience. With Timelapse in Google Earth, we have a clearer picture of our changing planet right at our fingertips one that shows not just problems but also solutions, as well as mesmerizingly beautiful natural phenomena that unfold over decades, said Rebecca Moore, the director of Google Earth, Earth Engine & Outreach, in a blog post Thursday.
Image: Google
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Google Earth is already a powerful tool for observing our planet, but today it’s getting a major upgrade with the introduction of a new 3D time-lapse feature.
Described by Google Earth director Rebecca Moore as the biggest update to Google Earth since 2017, Timelapse in Google Earth combines more than 24 million satellite photos, two petabytes of data, and 2 million hours of CPU processing time to create a 4.4-terapixel interactive view showing how the Earth has changed from 1984 to 2020.
Updated / Thursday, 15 Apr 2021
14:46
Google said the update is the biggest in five years
Google Earth now allows people to see the most vivid depiction of our rapidly changing planet in interactive, explorable 3D.
The tech giant has used 24 million satellite photos from the past 37 years, revealing even greater detail in its Timelapse feature.
Users can observe the real effects of urban growth, and environmental concerns such as deforestation, melting ice caps and receding glaciers from any area.
Google has previously offered a timelapsed view over Earth but this was in 2D - now people will be able to traverse in 3D.
Google Earth users can now see the striking effect of climate change over the past four decades. Google s latest feature, Timelapse, is an eye opening, technical feat that provides visual evidence of how the Earth has changed due to climate change and human behaviour.