February 4, 2009
By Mike Peters
Google has announced the launch of Google Earth 5.0. The new version includes an ocean feature which allows users to explore 3D underwater terrain and browse ocean-related content contributed by leaders in ocean science and advocacy.
Ocean in Google Earth 5.0 Allows 3D Surface-to-Sea Floor Exploration
"With this latest version of Google Earth you can not only zoom into whatever part of our planet's surface you wish to examine in closer detail, you can now dive into the world's oceans that cover almost three-quarters of the planet and discover new wonders that had not been accessible in previous versions of this magical experience," Al Gore said at the Google launch event in San Francisco.
Ocean in Google Earth combines sea floor terrain and expert content to provide users with an opportunity to explore some of the most difficult-to-reach parts of the world. Virtual travelers to Hawaii, for example, can examine underwater volcanoes, see videos about the exotic marine life of the region, read about nearby shipwrecks, and contribute photos and videos of favorite surf spots.
The ocean feature is on by default in the newest version of Google Earth. As users zoom in on the ocean they will see a dynamic water surface, and once they dive beneath the surface they can navigate 3D sea floor terrain. The feature includes 20 content layers, containing information contributed by the world's leading scientists, researchers, and ocean.
Google Earth 5.0 Additional Features from Going Back in Time to Touring Mars
Other new features of Google Earth 5.0 include: Historical imagery which allows users to activate a time slider to see both newer and older satellite imagery from around the globe, enabling them to observe a single location's development over time; Touring enables users to create narrated tours of imagery and content in Google Earth to share; Google Mars 3D allows a virtual 3D tour of Mars in high resolution imagery; and GPS Tracking which allows all users to upload tracks from GPS devices (including many Garmin, Magellan, and NMEA-compatible devices) to Google Earth. Google Earth 5.0 is available in 41 languages.
