1. What is Google Earth?
  2. What do we do
  3. Processing
  4. Applications, Tools and Freeware

Processing

Google Earth was conceptualized so that the user could quickly and easily view their data on its interface. In order to satisfy these requirements, the language used to define and customize the visual features had to be simple and practical. Hence, the various aspects of the publicized data are coded in the Keyhole Markup Language (KML).

In the case of an image overlay, such as NARR Temperature Data, a KML file (tab-based ASCII or text file) refers to the image using a simple path tab to the appropriate directory. In order to create the NARR Temperature image, we are developing a MATLAB script, which will convert the original Grided Binary format of the NARR data into a raster image. The image can then be geographically referenced using one of two methods: (1) direct georeferencing through GRB2KML script (temporarily only for Equidistant Cylindrical lat/lon data) or (2) use of an intermediate georeferencing freeware called LibGeoTIFF and Google Earth PRO.

More help

The following are tutorials, which are meant to walk the user through and explain the various steps involved in the processing and publication of different types of data on Google Earth:

  • NARR Data on Google Earth
    (subject to change with the development of GRB2KML script; Flash reader is required)
  • Weather Stations on Google Earth
    (Not yet available)
  • 3-D Georeferenced Bar Graphs of Meteorological variables on Google Earth
    (Not yet Available)
  • NARR Temperature Data Animation with associated date and time reference
    (Not yet available)
  • NARR Temperature Data Animation without associated date and time reference
    (Not yet available)

An additional help tool is the Google Earth user guide. Further information and advice on Google Earth can be found in the Google Earth Community. For up-to-date news on features and applications of Google Earth visit the Google Earth Blog.
The following PowerPoint presentation include further information on possible processing options of different data types into KML format to be viewed on Google Earth:
DAI on Google Earth Summary
NARR and Shapefile Processes and Package
A detailed description of GE-Graphs and additional help files for the application in question are available here.