Google is unveiling a new feature for Google Earth, allowing users to watch the changing face of the earth over the last three decades.
"Timelapse" creates an animated .gif of any area of the planet, showing the changing topography and satellite views from 1984 to last year.
"Working with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), NASA and TIME, we're releasing more than a quarter-century of images of Earth taken from space, compiled for the first time into an interactive time-lapse experience," wrote Rebecca Moore, Engineering Manager Google Earth Engine & Earth Outreach on Google's official blog.
"Built from millions of satellite images and trillions of pixels, you can explore this global, zoomable time-lapse map as part of TIME's new Timelapse project. View stunning phenomena such as the sprouting of Dubai's artificial Palm Islands, the retreat of Alaska's Columbia Glacier, the deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon and urban growth in Las Vegas from 1984 to 2012," she wrote.
Google scoured its entire database of satellite imagery to compile the timelines, selecting the best photo from each time period, those least obscured by clouds and with the best clarity.
"Using Google Earth Engine technology, we sifted through 2,068,467 images-a total of 909 terabytes of data-to find the highest-quality pixels (e.g., those without clouds), for every year since 1984 and for every spot on Earth. We then compiled these into enormous planetary images, 1.78 terapixels each, one for each year," wrote Moore.
While the photos cover the entire surface of the planet, Time Magazine is highlighting several locations that have experienced rapid and impressive changes during the last few decades. The timelapse of Las Vegas shows a growing city and shrinking water supply.
Dubai blooms from the desert and Shangai creeps across the delta of the Pearl River. Glaciers in Alaska recede over two miles and the tar sands in northern Canada industrialize.
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