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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
In Google Earth, LAYERS are sets of information that you can stack onto your map.
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)
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 INFORMATIONIf 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.
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.
All of the sub-layers in the ‘Ocean’ layer are turned on and visible
All ‘Borders and Labels’ layers on
SOME ‘Ocean’ layers on, but not all
Google Earth Online Tutorials: Navigation
http://www.google.com/earth/learn/beginner.html#tab=navigation
REAL Visualization Tool
Rapid Estimates of Approaching Landfall
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 vsCamille.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’
How to open and save the [.kmz] file for the ‘Visualizing Hurricanes’ Lesson
Google Earth is our FRIEND!
Zoom Bar (or you can double click a location)
Click for street view
Click to shift your view of the map (or click and drag)
Compass
Storm Surge Depth Key
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
• 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.
TIP: Turn off all other layers prior to running the time series layer
Time Series of Elevation LAYER
To play the animation, click the clock with the triangle
To check the animation settings and date and time options, click the wrench button
TIP: If the animation scale does not show up, hover over the storm surge color scale and it will appear
Time Series of Elevation LAYER
Click ‘Loop Animation’ to run the model continuously
Select the slowest animation speed
