Google Earth hits the depths

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Google has launched Ocean, the first major upgrade to its global mapping software, Google Earth, which will enable viewers to dive beneath the waves to explore the sea. The map also includes 20 content layers, containing information from the world's leading scientists, researchers, and ocean explorers.   Ocean in Google Earth will allow users to swim around underwater volcanoes, watch videos about marine life, read about nearby shipwrecks, and watch scenes of historic ocean expeditions.   At the launch event yesterday at the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco's newly rebuilt aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum, guest speaker Al Gore said that the update would make Google Earth a "magical experience."   "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 ocean that covers almost three-quarters of the planet and discover new wonders that had not been accessible in previous versions," he said.   Google Ocean aims to let users visit some of the more interesting locations, including underwater volcanoes, as well as running videos on marine life, shipwrecks and clips of favorite surf and dive spots.   The new features were developed in close collaboration with oceanographer Sylvia Earle, the National Geographic Society's explorer in residence, and an advisory council of more than 25 ocean advocates and scientists. "I cannot imagine a more effective way to inspire awareness and caring for the blue heart of the planet than the new Ocean in Google Earth,ÔÇØ commented Earle.   The new version of Google Earth will also contain updates on the terrestrial side, including narrated tours of imagery and content, as well as GPS tracking and virtual time travel, where viewers can observe changes in satellite images over time, such as the melting of ice on the Grinnell Glacier in Montana.   There are also updates to the Mars 3D section, giving users the option to switch from the blue planet to the red one.   Google Earth, which combines satellite imagery, maps and information to allow users to explore streets and cities around the world, has been downloaded 500 million times since it was introduced in 2005.   *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *