Earth Science Google Earth Links
- Google Earth Users Guide
—A basic users' guide to prepare you for using Google Earth.
Clicking on these links will automatically open KMZ earth-viewing files in Google Earth. If you right-click, you have the option of saving the file to your hard drive.
Unit 1: Introduction to Earth Science
Chapter 2: Matter, Forces, and Energy
- LHC—A KMZ file showing the basic parts of the Large Hadron Collider that includes a tour of the LHC and links to the LHC website
Chapter 3: Maps and Mapping
- IDL—A KMZ file that gives a tour of the IDL
Unit 2: The Restless Earth
Chapter 5: The Changing Earth
- Tectonic Plates—A KMZ file showing the arrangement of tectonic plates and classification of plate boundaries
- Updated Tectonic Plates—The latest KMZ file of tectonic plates from USGS showing the arrangement of all tectonic plates and classification of plate boundaries (without labeling the plates)
Chapter 6: Earthquakes
- San Andreas Fault—A KMZ file giving a tour of the fault
- Mount St. Helens—A KMZ file giving a tour of the mountain
- Mount St. Helens Damage Overlay—A KMZ file providing an overlay showing the damage to Mount St. Helens and the surrounding area from the 1980 volcanic eruption, including a tour of the damage area
- Miyako City, Japan—A KMZ file that shows devastation in and around this city caused by the 2011 M9.0 earthquake and tsunami, including a tour of the area
- Tectonic Plates—A KMZ file showing the arrangement of tectonic plates and classification of plate boundaries
- Updated Tectonic Plates—The latest KMZ file of tectonic plates from USGS showing the arrangement of all tectonic plates and classification of plate boundaries (without labeling the plates)
- Chief Mountain—A KMZ showing an example of an overthrust, in which rock layers appear out of order, including a tour of the mountain
Chapter 7: Mountains and Hills
- Notable Mountains of the World—A KMZ file that installs twelve placemarks in Google Earth for the mountains included in that file, including tours of each of the mountains
- Mount Whitney—A KMZ that includes a tour of the mountain
- Denali—A KMZ that includes a tour of the mountain
- Mount Everest—A KMZ that includes a tour of the mountain
- Mauna Kea—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the mountain
- Tectonic Plates—A KMZ file showing the arrangement of tectonic plates and classification of plate boundaries
- Updated Tectonic Plates—The latest KMZ file of tectonic plates from USGS showing the arrangement of all tectonic plates and classification of plate boundaries (without labeling the plates)
- Lake Tanganyika—A KMZ that includes a tour of the lake
- Lake Victoria—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the lake
- Laguna Verde—A KMZ file that includes a tour of Laguna Verde
- Mount Kilimanjaro—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the mountain
- Kilimanjaro Climate Zones—A KMZ file providing an overlay of Mount Kilimanjaro that shows climate zones present there, includes a tour of the climate zones
- Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes—A KMZ file providing an overlay that shows the seven most popular climbing routes up Mount Kilimanjaro, includes a tour of the climbing routes
- Matterhorn—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the mountain
- Mount Etna—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the mountain
Chapter 8: Volcanoes and Volcanism
- Eyjafjallajökull—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the mountain
- Tectonic Plates—A KMZ file showing the arrangement of tectonic plates and classification of plate boundaries
- Global Volcano Map—A KMZ file showing volcanoes around the world, including at least one photo and a detailed description of each volcano
- Updated Tectonic Plates—The latest KMZ file of tectonic plates from USGS showing the arrangement of all tectonic plates and classification of plate boundaries (without labeling the plates)
- Mount Rainier—A KMZ file that includes a tour of Mount Rainier
- Mount Tambora—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the mountain
- Mount Unzen—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the mountain
- Mount St. Helens—A KMZ file giving a tour of the mountain
- Mount St. Helens Damage Overlay—A KMZ file providing an overlay showing the damage to Mount St. Helens and the surrounding area from the 1980 volcanic eruption
- Grand Prismatic Spring—A KMZ file that includes a tour of this colorful spring
- Krakatoa—A KMZ file providing a tour of Krakatoa (notice Anak Krakatau [Child of Krakatoa] forming in the midst of the island group)
Unit 3: Earth’s Rocky Materials
Chapter 9: Minerals and Ores
- Statue of Liberty—A KMZ file that includes a tour around the statue
- Argyle Diamond Mine—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the mine
- Copiapó Mine—A KMZ file that shows the location of several mines and includes a tour of the Copiapó Mine
- Jefferson Memorial—A KMZ file that tours this memorial
Chapter 10: Rocks
- Kilauea—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the mountain
- Seven Sisters Chalk Cliffs—A KMZ file that flies you along the length of the cliffs
Chapter 12: Weathering, Erosion, and Soils
- Crowfoot Mountain—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the mountain (notice the talus and the bright blue lakes of mineral-rich waters)
- Oso, Washington Landslide—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the damage that this landslide created
- Grand Canyon—A KMZ file that flies you through the canyon
- Mount St. Helens—A KMZ file giving a tour of the mountain
- Mount St. Helens Damage Overlay—A KMZ file providing an overlay showing the damage to Mount St. Helens and the surrounding area from the 1980 volcanic eruption, including a tour of the damage area
- Chapter 12 Map Exercises—Five placemarks for use with Chapter Review Questions 32 and 33
Unit 4: The Water World
Chapter 13: Oceans and Seas
- Challenger Deep—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the site
- Chapter 13 Map Exercises—Six placemarks for use with Chapter Review Questions 32–37
Chapter 14: Ocean Motions
- Cape Henlopen (spit)—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the cape, an example of a spit
- Sea of Azov (bay barrier)—A KMZ file that includes a tour of this bay barrier
- Wood End (hook)—A KMZ file that includes a tour of this hook
- North Atlantic Currents—A Google Earth file that depicts both the surface currents in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic Garbage Patch
- Pacific Garbage Patch—A KMZ file that shows the Great Pacific Garbage Patch formed in the Pacific Gyre
- Pacific Ocean Currents—A KMZ file that shows surface currents in the Pacific Ocean
Chapter 15: Ocean Exploration
- Isles of Scilly—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the islands
- Challenger Deep—A KMZ that includes a tour of the site
Chapter 16: Surface Waters
- Victoria Falls—A KMZ file that takes you on a tour of one of the largest waterfalls in the world
- Three Gorges Dam—A KMZ file that takes you on a tour of the the dam, its boat lift, and its lock system
- Continental Divides—A KMZ file showing both the major river basins of North America and the continental divides that define them
- Chapter 16 Map Exercises—Four placemarks for use with Chapter Review Questions 27–30
Chapter 17: Groundwater
- Blue Grotto—A KMZ file providing a tour of this special place
- Dead Sea Caves—A KMZ file that includes a tour of these caves
- Carlsbad Caverns—A KMZ file that includes a tour of these caverns
- Craters of the Moon—A KMZ file that includes a tour of these caves
- Lava Beds National Monument—A KMZ file that includes a tour of this monument
Unit 5: The Atmosphere
Chapter 18: Earth’s Atmosphere
- Mount Washington Observatory—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the mountain, ending at the observatory that sits on its summit
Chapter 19: Weather
- Mount Washington Observatory—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the mountain, ending at the observatory that sits on its summit
Chapter 21: Climate and Climate Change
- Mount Kilimanjaro—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the mountain
- Kilimanjaro Climate Zones—A KMZ file providing an overlay that shows climate zones of Mount Kilimanjaro
- Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes—A KMZ file providing an overlay that shows the seven most popular climbing routes up Mount Kilimanjaro
- Ross Ice Shelf—A KMZ file that includes a tour of this feature
- Mount Pinatubo—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the mountain
- Biosphere 2—A KMZ file that includes a tour of Biosphere 2
Unit 6: The Heavens
Chapter 22: The Sun, Moon, and Earth System
- Stonehenge—A file that includes a tour of this site
Chapter 25: Space Exploration
- Mauna Kea—A KMZ file that includes a tour of the mountain
- Arecibo Radio Telescope—A KMZ file that tours the telescope