A vivid, fast-paced sequence from Google Earth offers a global view of the planet, with the ability to zoom in and out to witness dynamic changes across surfaces. From vast desert regions in Egypt shifting to irrigated fields to the evolving bends of rivers in the Amazon basin near Pucallpa, Peru, the footage also captures volcanic activity, deforestation, and the spread of forest fires. It even highlights landscapes like Lassen National Forest in California. The clips trace how cities and regions adapt to climate pressures, visible in offshore wind farms near Middelgrunden, Denmark, and the rollout of large solar installations in Granada Province, Spain, illustrating different adaptation strategies without needing to travel far.
Google is described as a library of visual data, with more than 800 timelapse videos spanning over 300 locations. These resources are designed to help researchers, educators, and policy makers understand how the planet is changing over time. They are frequently used to demonstrate the impacts of environmental shifts, such as land-cover changes, urban expansion, and the loss of natural habitats. An example cited in recent work is the 2022 documentary The Territory, which employs timelapse sequences to convey the pace and consequences of deforestation in the Amazon and its effects on Indigenous communities.
The timelapse imagery in Google Earth is made possible through collaborations with several public and international data providers. Major contributors include the United States’ NASA and United States Geological Survey programs, which provide long-running Landsat observations, and the European Union’s Copernicus program, which brings in Sentinel satellite imagery. These partnerships help ensure open, accessible data that support a broad range of scientific and educational uses.
Starting today, refreshed visualizations are available on Google Earth and YouTube, making it easier for audiences in Canada and the United States to explore recent changes from a global to a local perspective.