You can follow our satellite tagged sharks on Google Earth!

Google Earth lets users dive in to explore ocean depths

From Site:
Google Earth has long showed users the ocean -- but mostly just as a big blue area with some basic shading to show depth. "But starting today we have a much more detailed bathymetric map (the ocean floor), so you can actually drop below the surface and explore the nooks and crannies of the seafloor in 3D," wrote Hanke. "While you're there, you can explore thousands of data points, including videos and images of ocean life, details on the best surf spots, logs of real ocean expeditions, and much more."
[via: http://www.computerworld.com]

*I'm so tickled pink!*

The Atlas Of True Names

From Site:
A fascinating new atlas, featuring cities that are renamed to reflect their etymological origins

Etymologists and wordsmiths will take particular interest in a new set of maps going on sale in time for Christmas.

The traditional names for the world's cities, countries, rivers and mountains have been altered on an atlas to reflect their origins and literal meaning.

The logic behind each place name is explained on the back of the maps. Cameroon comes from the Portuguese word camaroes, meaning shrimps or prawns – an allusion to the abundance of these crustaceans in the Sanaga River.

"The maps are not definitive works on the etymological roots of geographical names but more of a stimulus, and a very amusing one at that, to make us think about why places are called as they are,"

Copies of the Atlas of True Names can be ordered for £4.99 each from the website www.outstandingmd.co.uk/truenames/index.shtml
[via: http://www.telegraph.co.uk]

*As a side note I see that the Philippines is called "Islands Of The Horse Friends"

Map reveals species most at risk from climate change

From Site:
Threatened ecosystems, threatened economies

Disappearing animals may not seem so important compared with the threat of water shortages and lethal heat waves, but Vié points out how the welfare of biodiversity and humans is intrinsically linked. "If you lose coral reefs, hundreds of millions of people will be affected – they will have no food, no income from tourism."

He says one outcome of the mapping exercise could be to anticipate what regions are going to need humanitarian aid in future.
[via: http://environment.newscientist.com]

Google Earth Outreach KML: Marine Protected Areas

Google Earth Outreach KML: Marine Protected Areas

From Site:
This "Marine Protected Areas" KML file was produced through a collaborative effort between some of the biggest names in ocean conservation. On opening this KML and zooming in, you will see the locations of marine protected areas illustrated by a placemark icon. Clicking on these icons provides you with rich textual and graphical information about the specific location. Zooming in further will show the boundaries of the diverse and precious sites.
[via: http://earth.google.com]

New Google tool reveals marine protected areas

Conservationists working with Google Inc. have unveiled a tool that lets people view protected marine areas with the click of a mouse — a bid to harness the Internet's top search engine to raise awareness of endangered ocean habitats.

The feature on Google Earth displays icons indicating sensitive areas of the world's oceans, from the waters off the Galapagos Islands to the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean.

A click on them brings up photos and/or video of the sites and marine life there, as well as text explaining the sites, how they are managed and local maritime lore.

At the same presentation, National Geographic unveiled another novelty: a live, continuous underwater video feed of a coral reef, off Belize in Central America, WildCam Belize Reef.
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/wildcambelize
[via: http://www.gmanews.tv]