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Google 3D Mapping Of Oceans

posted by lxnyce on Wednesday April 30, @08:30AM        Permalink  Trackback URI  Slashdotthis  Diggthis  Del.icio.us
from the let's-see-where-it-goes dept.

CNET news is currently running an article about this. Here is an excerpt from their article : "The company has assembled an advisory group of oceanography experts, and in December invited researchers from institutions around the world to the Mountain View, Calif., Googleplex. There, they discussed plans for creating a 3D oceanographic map, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The tool--for now called Google Ocean, the sources say, though that name could change--is expected to be similar to other 3D online mapping applications. People will be able to see the underwater topography, called bathymetry; search for particular spots or attractions; and navigate through the digital environment by zooming and panning. (The tool, however, is not to be confused with the "Google Ocean" project by France-based Magic Instinct Software that uses Google Earth as a visualization tool for marine data.) "

For more information, visit the news article above.

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• Google Earth Addon?

  (Score:2, Interesting)

  by daedlus (1494) on Wednesday April 30, @09:21AM (#2336)

  So, is this a Google Earth add-on kind of in the spirit of Google Sky? I don't see why this wouldn't be feasible but there might be issues in making the topographic DEM and bathymetric DEM meet up due to resolution problems, positional accuracy issues and edge effects. If they could actually make that work it would be wicked. However, the amount of time required to make these match up would probably be monumental. Unless you wrote an algorithm for it. And sold it. To Google. (Runs off to program)

  [ Reply to This ]
• /. discussion

  (Score:2)

  by Satri (3) on Wednesday April 30, @08:42PM (#2339)
  ( http://alexandreleroux.blogspot.com/ | Last Journal: Friday March 17, @05:07PM )

  Right here [slashdot.org].

  [ Reply to This ]
• Could be useful for geophysics education...

  (Score:2, Interesting)

  by winwaed (1455) on Thursday May 01, @12:56PM (#2342)
  ( http://www.mapping-tools.com/ )

  Although it would be a niche application, this would be useful for geophysics education. Eg. isostasy and plate tectonics.
  
  The image on the CNet article implies it is a map of the geoid (satellite sea level height), but I don't think it is. The ocean ridges tend to be closer to isostatic equilibrium, whilst the subduction trenches are far from equilibrium.
  
  Comparing true bathymetry to geoid height is a useful thing to do and would be useful in education. Places where the lithosphere are close to equilibrium will have low geoid anomalies, whilst places that aren't will have large anomalies - eg. subduction zones. The elastic thickness of the lithosphere can also be seen by measuring the wavelength of such anomalies (eg. around Hawaii).
  

  --
  Richard Marsden http://www.winwaed.com http://www.mapping-tools.com

  [ Reply to This ]
• Link between Google Ocean and NASA World Wind?

  (Score:2)

  by Satri (3) on Friday May 02, @09:55AM (#2344)
  ( http://alexandreleroux.blogspot.com/ | Last Journal: Friday March 17, @05:07PM )

  More here [earthissquare.com].

  [ Reply to This ]