Live interactive 3D map lets you watch rain, clouds and even hurricanes across the globe

From DailyMail  by Jonathan O'Callaghan

• an interactive map from Europe's MeteoGroup lets you watch weather unfold around the world
• by selecting different icons weather of varying types can be watched live in different countries
• for example users can see the global cloud cover and also where it is raining at the moment
• the interactive map even tracks the path of tropical storms and shows where wind is moving on Earth
• data is pulled live from a forecast model by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

Ever wanted to see what's going on with the weather in the world at this very second?
Now you can thanks to an interactive map that lets you see temperature, rainfall, winds and more in countries across the globe.

Called MeteoEarth you can navigate around the 3D globe below using your mouse, while selecting the icons on the right hand side will also reveal different types of weather.
MeteoEarth.com was launched by MeteoGroup, headquartered in London, one of Europe’s leading private weather companies.
The technology which powers MeteoEarth.com has been adapted from a professional broadcasting tool used by TV presenters around the world
Impressive 3D graphics compliment the high-end gaming technology used to fully engage the user with exploring the world’s weather.

For people who are simply interested in gaining a general overview of the world’s weather conditions, they can choose from a selection of weather layers; ranging from precipitation and cloud cover, to wind direction and temperature.
They can zoom in to focus on different areas of the world, zoom out to get a global overview, or even rotate the globe using the mouse.
For the more avid weather enthusiasts, there is the option to observe tropical storms by simply clicking a button to be guided towards an area on the globe where a tropical storm is occurring, with a line showing its path.
Once here, there are details of the storm’s name, wind, gust and overall speed.
Different layers of weather information can be built up to visualize the storm in its entirety.

An interactive map from Europe's MeteoGroup lets you watch the weather unfold around the world. By selecting different icons weather of varying types can be watched live in different countries.

For example users can see the global cloud cover or also where it is raining at the moment.

The interactive map even tracks the path of tropical storms (shown in Central America ) and shows where wind is moving on Earth

The interactive map will also show isobars (seen here above the UK), which reveal high and low-pressure systems (pictured).

In order to make the air pressure comparable, no matter what height you’re at, the air pressure is converted to the mean sea level.

As a comparison value, the barometric (atmospheric) pressure is shown in white, high pressure areas are in red and low air pressure is in blue

In addition a built-in screenshot feature provides an easy way to take particular weather images of a certain area, capturing still images of weather situations.
The frame of the map can be altered to include close-up sections of the map or zoomed out to get a more global overview.
The data on MeteoEarth.com comes from a forecast model by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
This is then refined by MeteoGroup using their own algorithms, and finally visualised on the website in the interactive map..
The data on MeteoEarth.com is updated twice per day.
It comes from the forecast model each day at 0:00UTC and 12:00UTC and the data is updated at 6:00UTC and 18:00UTC.

This is all an automated process with no human interaction, although MeteoGroup tells MailOnline their in-house developers are currently working on improving this process to offer an even more ‘live’ representation.
'This website will help to educate users with no prior meteorological experience about the weather,' said David Kaiser, Head of Consumer at MeteoGroup.
'The breathtaking graphics combined with the wealth of information about each weather feature provides an engaging demonstration of the world’s current weather and is sure to provide hours of entertainment to anybody viewing it.'

Data is pulled live from a forecast model by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

'This website will help to educate users with no prior meteorological experience about the weather,' said David Kaiser, Head of Consumer at MeteoGroup.

'The breathtaking graphics combined with the wealth of information about each weather feature provides an engaging demonstration of the world’s current weather and is sure to provide hours of entertainment to anybody viewing it'

Links :

• GeoGarage blog : Real-time world winds animated map / Isaac storm as it appears in a visualization of America's wind / Watching Earth's winds, on a shoestring / Perpetual ocean : currents looks like a living Van Gogh painting

Creating within : an incredible journey inside waves

Breathtaking slow motion waves

An award winning documentary that follows two lifelong friends, on a surfing pilgrimage to remote parts of the Australian coastline to film epic waves in memory of their other friend who took his life.
It captures their journey of filming in the elements, as the film Within is brought to life.
Filmmaker Darius reflects on how Billy's death sparked the beginning of his inward journey, shifting his perspective about what matters in life and expanding his connection to the ocean, into new forms of visual expression.

An impressionistic exploration of the ocean, Within creates the space to linger, in vivid detail, dwelling on the ocean in movement, flowing through the majestic folds of nature.

Libertas

Libertas from ENJOY THE SOUP

Juan Carlos is a seventy year old fisherman from Lobitos, Peru.

Since he can remember, he spends every day of his life on the sea.

With his son Pedro, he fishes until the family has food for the day.

Some fish he sells to the surfers or trades against vegetables and fruits.

He loves the taste of the red ones they catch and the sunrise far from shore.
Thats his story.

Canada CHS update in the Marine GeoGarage

As our public viewer is not yet available
(currently under construction, upgrading to Google Maps API v3 as v2 is officially no more supported),
this info is primarily intended to our B2B customers which use our nautical charts layers
in their own webmapping applications through our GeoGarage API. 

CHS raster charts coverage

40 charts have been updated (August 28, 2014)

• 1311 SOREL-TRACY À / TO VARENNES
• 1312 LAC SAINT-PIERRE
• 1313 BATISCAN AU/TO LAC SAINT-PIERRE
• 1314 DONNACONA À/TO BATISCAN
• 3050A KOOTENAY RIVER MILE 0 TO MILE 8.7
• 3050B SHEET 2 KOOTENAY RIVER MILE 8.3 TO MILE 16.5
• 3050C KOOTENAY RIVER MILE 15.8 TO 24.9
• 3050D KOOTENAY RIVER MILE 24.2 TO 29
• 3050E SHEET 5 KOOTENAY LAKE KUSKONOOK TO BOSWELL
• 3050F KOOTENAY LAKE RHINOCEROS POINT TO RIONDEL
• 3050G KOOTENAY LAKE RIONDEL TO KASLO
• 3050H KOOTENAY LAKE KASLO TO LARDEAU
• 3050I WEST ARM KOOTENAY LAKE PROCTOR LIGHT TO HARROP NARROWS
• 3050J WEST ARM KOOTENAY LAKE HARROP NARROWS TO NINE MILE NARROWS
• 3050K WEST ARM KOOTENAY LAKE NINE MILE NARROWS TO FIVE MILE POINT
• 3050L WEST ARM KOOTENAY LAKE FIVE MILE POINT TO NELSON
• 3050M WEST ARM KOOTENAY LAKE NELSON TO TAGHUM
• 3050N KOOTENAY RIVER TAGHUM TO CORRA LINN DAM
• 3442 NORTH PENDER ISLAND TO/À THETIS ISLAND
• 3456 HALIBUT BANK TO/À BALLENAS CHANNEL
• 3459 APPROACHES TO/APPROCHES À NANOOSE HARBOUR
• 3475 PLANS - STUART CHANNEL
• 3490 FRASER RIVER/FLEUVE FRASER - SAND HEADS TO/À DOUGLAS ISLANDS BC
• 3491 FRASER RIVER/FLEUVE FRASER - NORTH ARM AB
• 3512 STRAIT OF GEORGIA CENTRAL PORTION/PARTIE CENTRALE
• 3675 NOOTKA SOUND
• 3676 ESPERANZA INLET
• 3726 LAREDO SOUND AND APPROACHES
• 3737 LAREDO CHANNEL - INCLUDING / Y COMPRIS LAREDO INLET AND / ET SURF INLET
• 3744 QUEEN CHARLOTTE SOUND
• 3902 HECATE STRAIT
• 3936 FITZ HUGH SOUND TO / À LAMA PASSAGE
• 3985 PRINCIPE CHANNEL - CENTRAL PORTION/PARTIE CENTRALE AND/ET PETREL CHANNEL
• 4026 HAVRE-SAINT-PIERRE ET/AND CAP DES ROSIERS À/TO POINTE DES MONTS
• 4114 CAMPOBELLO ISLAND
• 4115 PASSAMAQUODDY BAY AND / ET ST CROIX RIVER
• 4118 ST. MARY'S BAY
• 4237 APPROACHES TO / APPROCHES DE HALIFAX HARBOUR
• 4266 SYDNEY HARBOUR
• 4277 GREAT BRAS D'OR / ST. ANDREWS AND / ET ST. ANNS BAY
• 4335 STRAIT OF CANSO AND APPROACHES/ET LES APPROCHES
• 4367 FLINT ISLAND TO/À CAPE SMOKEY
• 4385 CHEBUCTO HEAD TO/À BETTY ISLAND
• 4466 HILLSBOROUGH BAY
• 4825 BURGEO AND/ET RAMEA ISLANDS
• 4846 MOTION BAY TO/À CAPE ST FRANCIS
• 4847 CONCEPTION BAY
• 4848 LONG POND
• 4857 INDIAN BAY TO/À WADHAM ISLANDS
• 4911 ENTRÉE À/ENTRANCE TO MIRAMICHI RIVER
• 4913 CARAQUET HARBOUR BAIE DE SHIPPEGAN ET/AND MISCOU HARBOUR
• 6207 SLAVE LAKE TO/À EAGLENEST LAKE
• 7750 APPROACHES TO/APPROCHES À CAMBRIDGE BAY

So 693 charts (1677 including sub-charts) are available in the Canada CHS layer. (see coverage)

Note : don't forget to visit 'Notices to Mariners' published monthly and available from the Canadian Coast Guard both online or through a free hardcopy subscription service.
This essential publication provides the latest information on changes to the aids to navigation system, as well as updates from CHS regarding CHS charts and publications.
See also written Notices to Shipping and Navarea warnings : NOTSHIP

The science of tides

 

 Watching the Tides

Ocean tides rise and fall twice a day, influenced by the gravitational forces of the sun and moon.

Studying tides' rhythmic movements helps us understand both the ocean and the cosmos.

Astronomer Ben Burress explains how tides work, and visiting Crissy Field in San Francisco to see the oldest continually operating tidal gauge in the Western Hemisphere. 

From Swell Lines

Tides are the most consistent variables in our surfing lives.

The Ocean is always either receding or approaching your shoreline.

It is a constant reminder of the geometry and power of astronomical forces.

Tides erode coastlines, impact marine ecosystems and even facilitated early life leaving the sea.

Rising tides can pull swell onto a beach while dropping tides can focus wave energy to a shallow sandbar or reef.

Tides are caused by the gravitational dance between the Earth, Moon and Sun.

Gravity is a fundamental force that attracts every object to every other object.

It’s the force that brought Newton’s apple to the ground and the force that accelerates a bodysurfer down a wave face.

The more massive the object, the stronger it’s gravitational pull.

The closer two objects are, the stronger the pull of gravity between them.

This pull between objects is called a tidal force.

The action of the tides, the variation in sea levels due to the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on the Earth.

The Moon, Earth and Sun are freaking huge.

About 36 Moons can fit inside the Earth and 1.3 million Earths fit in the Sun.

Although much much less massive than the Sun, the Moon’s gravitation has a stronger impact on Earth because it is much closer.

The sun is 93 million miles away from the Earth while the Moon is only 240,000.

Much like an apple is pulled to the ground, the Ocean is pulled toward the Moon.

Luna’s tidal force tugs on the Earth, pulling the Ocean off some beaches for low tide and onto others for high tide.

The force also impacts the Earth’s crust and atmosphere but only fractionally compared to liquid water.

 source : NOAA

Tides are caused by two bulges formed in the Ocean.

One from the tidal force toward the Moon and the other on the opposite side of the Earth caused by inertia as our planet spins.

This is the same centrifugal force that keeps the water in the bucket when you swing it  over your head.

The bulges follow the Moon and the spinning Earth around the globe.

When a bulge passes your beach, the tide rises.

The monthly tide calendar parallels the monthly lunar phase calendar.

New Moon is the alignment of Sun, Moon, Earth.

We do not see the Moon because all the light is bouncing off the Far Side.

This formation of three bodies in a line is called syzygy and it amplifies the tidal forces on the bodies. During New and Full Moons, the alignment of the Earth, Moon and Sun creates greater tidal range. Higher highs, lower lows and more dramatic swings; this is called the spring tide.

Not named for the season, but because it “springs forth.”

 Lunar phases (L) and notice the strong spring tides near Full and New Moon (R).

As the Moon orbits the Earth, it “waxes,” growing and showing more of her face each day.

After about 14 days the alignment is Sun, Earth, Moon, with the full face of Luna reflecting light. Then Luna wanes- shrinking each day until New Moon again two weeks later. 

The rest of the tide chart flows up and down between these points with the first and third quarter Moons having the smallest tidal range.

These are neap tides.

The differences between tides from day to day and month to month is the result of astronomical motions.

Luna’s orbit around the Earth forms an oval or ellipse.

Sometimes she is closer to Earth than other times.

King tides are the highest tides of the year and exist when the Moon is closest to the Earth and in syzygy alignment with the Sun.

Ebb is the decreasing tide while flood tide is the increasing.

The moment the tide changes is called slack water. 

There is 6 hours between each high and low.

Tomorrow’s high tide will be about an hour later than today’s.

Tides vary greatly all across the globe depending on factors like geographic location, local weather/swell and shoreline geology.

The East Coast of the US is semi-diurnal.

This refers to two highs and two lows each day of roughly the same height.

The West Coast is mixed semidiurnal: two highs and two lows each day with different heights.

The Gulf of Mexico is diurnal: one high and one low each day.

Three billion years ago, the Moon was much closer to the Earth, the tides rose thousands of feet over the land and then back to sea.

Today, the greatest tidal range exists in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia.

Tides are focused in and out of the bay resulting in a 50ft.+ tidal change.

The lowest tidal ranges of just a foot occur in the Mediterranean, Baltic and Caribbean Seas.

The middle of Ocean basins also experience minimal tidal changes.

Hawaii’s tides rarely change more than 2ft.

However, California’s tides exhibit much more dynamism. 

California king tides can approach 8ft. with an accompanying -2ft. low.

 Bay of Fundy of Nova Scotia: largest tidal range on Earth.

(see Tides.gc.ca for Hopewell Cape)

Tides impact waves in a variety of ways.

Surf spots that prefer certain tides are referred to as tide dependent. 

Some spots are flat until a tidal push focuses the energy on the beach.

Other spots stop breaking when the tide floods because the water becomes too deep for the waves to shoal.

As a general rule, incoming, low to high tide is preferable for many surf spots.

Low tide can create fast, hollow, plunging waves. High tide often produces slow, mushy, spilling waves.

However, many shorebreak womps prefer high tides pushing up the beach.

Changing tides can also alter the strength and direction of longshore and rip currents.

Death, taxes and tides.

The great English poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, wrote “Time and tide wait for no man.”

They are predictable and unstoppable.

Tides are the only variable in surf forecasting that are concrete and certain. 

Waveriders can feel the rhythm of the tides.

We experience the astronomical forces on a different level than the mathematicians and physicists.

 High tide pushing up the beach.

Links :

• YouTube : Bay of Fundy, NB
• NOAA : Tides turorial
• National Geographic : Tide
• Maree.info :  Annuaire des marées - France