Google Earth 101

Google Earth 101 A lesson about the basics of the Google Earth program, and how to use it with the REAL storm surge visualization tool. How does Google Earth Display Maps? • Using sets of information called LAYERS http://www.townofbernalillo.org/img/gislayers.jpg Earth view with NO LAYERS selected. (This is a bare map) Earth view with ‘Borders and Labels’ LAYER selected. (This is a map with one layer) In Google Earth, LAYERS are sets of information that you can stack onto your map. Google Earth Basics This is a map of the northern Gulf of Mexico without any layers. Selecting LAYERS by clicking the boxes can let you see sets of information at the same time. They ‘stack’ on top of each other like a set of transparencies. Select the ‘Places’ ‘Roads’ and ‘Weather’ LAYERS and you can read a current weather map using major roads for reference. BUT BE CAREFUL!....... Too many layers = TOO MUCH INFORMATION If too many map layers are turned on, it can make the map unreadable! Be sure to turn on only the layers that you need! Google Earth Basics Turn layers off by clicking the checked boxes. To remove all layers, click the ‘Primary Database’ box. To turn off “Tour Guide” across the bottom of you map, click on the double down arrow just to the left of the title. All ‘Borders and Labels’ layers on All of the sublayers in the SOME ‘Ocean’ ‘Ocean’ layer are layers on, but turned on and not all visible If a LAYER is marked with a [+] or a ∆, you can expand the selection to see a subset of layers by clicking on the symbol. If a layer box has a check mark, all sublayers are turned on your the map. If a layer box is filled in with a color (usually green or blue) the means that only a selection of sub layers are turned on for your map. Google Earth Online Tutorials: Navigation http://www.google.com/earth/learn/beginner.html#tab=navigation REAL Visualization Tool Rapid Estimates of Approaching Landfall How to open and save the [.kmz] file for the ‘Visualizing Hurricanes’ Lesson Download Instructions • Go to the NGCHC/ DISL storm surge website: Stormsurge.disl.org • Click on the ‘Student Resources’ link • If your computer does not have Google Earth, you will need to download the Google Earth program from the student resource page before starting. • Find and select the “Natasha vs. Camille” link. • When the ‘Opening REAL Natasha vs. Camille.kmz’ dialog box opens, select OPEN with Google Earth. How to open and save the [.kmz] file for the ‘Visualizing Hurricanes’ Lesson • When the Natasha vs Camille.kmz file opens, it will first appear in TEMPORARY PLACES (as shown to the left) • Right Click on the Temporary Places Layer and select ‘Save to My Places’ How to open and save the [.kmz] file for the ‘Visualizing Hurricanes’ Lesson • The layers will move to ‘My Places’, but still be labeled ‘Temporary Places’ • Right Click on the Temporary Places Layer and select ‘Rename’ • Rename this set of layers ‘NGCHC Natasha vs. Camille’ Google Earth is our FRIEND! Compass Click to shift your view of the map (or click and drag) Storm Surge Depth Key Click for street view Zoom Bar (or you can double click a location) Layers: (Different things the map can show you) To turn on/off a layer, click on the box to the left of its name. Storm surge elevation above mean sea level [ELEVATION layer] Storm surge depth/ inundation above land and still water [WATER DEPTH layer] Time Series of Elevation LAYER TIP: Turn off all other layers prior to running the time series layer • The ‘Time Series of Elevation’ layer shows a time lapse of the model storm surge from ‘Natasha’ as it approaches shore. • This is an animation of the changing surge over time. Time Series of Elevation LAYER TIP: If the animation scale does not show up, hover over the storm surge color scale and it will appear To check the To play the animation settings animation, click and date and time the clock with the options, click the triangle wrench button Time Series of Elevation LAYER Select the slowest animation speed Click ‘Loop Animation’ to run the model continuously Visualizing Hurricanes: The Next Step stormsurge.disl.org.

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