The NSIDC is home to a huge archive
of data related to snow and ice, and we have undertaken several
joint projects to use EarthSLOT tools to provide an easy and fun
front-end to access those data. These Applications are just the
tip of the iceberg, so to speak, in terms of how 3D technology can
be used for this purpose. Basically any web-searchable database
with a geographic orientation can likely be accessed in this way.
These Applications were all created to be viewed within TerraExplorer,
but without too much extra work they could also be put into a custom
web viewer. These Applications are also found within the Fly
Now! page. All of them were created by undergraduate interns working
through the Arctic Regions Supercomputer Center (ARSC) at the University
of Alaska Fairbanks. The interns had no prior experience with 3D
GIS and terrain visualization, and were able to create these Applications
within a few days work.
NSIDC Glacier Photo Database
Want to see a photo of your favorite glacier? If NSIDC
has an archived photo of it, the links to view or download
it will be floating above the glacier. You can also search
by glacier name, be flown there in 3D, and then view photo.
More info.
Want to learn more about glacier melt and shrinkage? Since
1992, Keith Echelmeyer's team at the University of Alaska
Fairbanks has been flying over glaciers using a small
aircraft with a laser altimeter to determine their surface
elevations. This file contains many of their flight lines,
displays the elevation data, and links to the raw data
which is archived at NSIDC. More
info.
Does your favorite glacier not
have a name or is it located outside the US? This application
contains the World Glacier Inventory's ID number and name
(if named) for nearly every glacier in the world. Each
ID tag is linked to the NSIDC's database to provide you
with the basic characteristics of each glacier and is
a good starting point to learn if any research has been
conducted there. The inventory is split into geographic
regions to speed up download; the complete inventory takes
quite a long time to load into TerraExplorer because there
are over 10,000 glaciers to identify. More
Info.
TerraExplorer, TerraExplorer
Pro, TerraGate, TerraPhoto, and TerraBuilder are registered trademarks
of Skyline Software Inc.
GoogleEarth, GoogleEarth
Plus, and GoogleEarth Pro are registered trademarks of Google.
Note: This material is based
upon work supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed
in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
No warranty: Data is provided "as is," without any warranty
whatsoever, including but not limited to any warranty as to performance,
merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose.
Liability: The entire risk as to the results
of the use of this data is assumed by the user. EarthSLOT is not
responsible for any interpretation or conclusions made by those
who acquire or use it. EarthSLOT shall not be liable for any direct,
indirect, special, incidental, compensatory or consequential damages
or third-party claims resulting from the use of this data, even
if EarthSLOT has been advised of the possibility of such potential
loss or damage. In states that do not allow the exclusion or limitation
of incidental or consequential damages, this data may not be used.
(c) 2004 Matt Nolan. Please contact
us with questions, comments, or compliments.
