Google Earth's biggest change in four years and how it links to IB DP Geography.

Google, making the biggest change since 2017, has added the ability to go back in time to the web based version of Google Earth. With 'Timelapse in Google Earth' you can look back at the past 37 years of satellite imagery in some locations. This feature was a much loved tool on the desktop version of Google Earth and now users can make use of it on (in my opinion) Google Earth's flagship version - Google Earth on web.

Looking back in time anywhere

To explore Timelapse in Google Earth, go to g.co/Timelapse - you can use the handy search bar to choose any place on the planet where you want to experience the passing of time.

If you are already in Google Earth on web you can click on the ship's wheel on the left hand navigation menu. This is Voyager - Google Earth's storytelling platform. Then choose 'Timelapse in Google Earth'.

Looking back in time at some suggested locations

Google Earth has curated some locations and stories to check out →

Changing Forests - gives you 11 locations - such as soybean farming [Bolivia], cattle ranching [Bolivia] and Palm Oil Production [Indonesia].

Fragile Beauty - gives you 8 locations - such as rivers meandering [Bolivia] and changing coastlines [US].

Sources of Energy - gives you 11 locations - such as coal mining [US], solar farms [China] and wind farms [US].

Warming Planet - gives you 10 locations - such as the Columbia Glacier [US] and Aral Sea [Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan].

Urban Expansion - gives you 10 suggestions - such as Las Vegas [US], Shanghai [China] and Dubai [Dubai]

Google has also uploaded more than 800 Timelapse videos in both 2D and 3D for public use at g.co/TimelapseVideos. These videos are available for download. You can select any video you want as a ready-to-use MP4 video or sit back and watch the videos on YouTube.

In collaboration with their partners, Google will update Google Earth annually with new timelapse imagery throughout the next decade.

Read more →

Google - The Keyword - Time flies in Google Earth’s biggest update in years [15 April 2021]

Google - The Keyword - 3 ways Liza Goldberg uses Timelapse to explore the planet [15 April 2021]