Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,393 posts)
Tue Oct 15, 2019, 04:56 PM Oct 2019

Scientists Want to Make a 3D Map of the Entire World Before Climate Change Ruins It

Scientists Want to Make a 3D Map of the Entire World Before Climate Change Ruins It
By Brandon Specktor - Senior Writer 7 hours ago Planet Earth

To record the world's most vulnerable places before they disappear, we're going to need a lot of lasers.

Earth is changing faster than anyone can comprehend. Every day, more forests burn, more glaciers melt and more evidence of the world's ancient cultures slips away. Change of some kind is, of course, inevitable — but it is happening more quickly and more severely because of the effects of human-caused climate change. And that has some scientists worried: The quicker Earth changes,the less time there is to learn from its past and understand its mysteries.

Recently, two researchers proposed a way to preserve a record of our planet in its present state: use lasers to create a high-resolution, 3D map of the entire world. It's now the mission of a new nonprofit project called The Earth Archive, which is spearheaded by archaeologist Chris Fisher and geographer Steve Leisz, both of Colorado State University.

"The climate crisis threatens to destroy our cultural and ecological patrimony within decades," Fisher said earlier this year in a TEDx talk. "How can we document everything before it's too late?"
....
1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Scientists Want to Make a 3D Map of the Entire World Before Climate Change Ruins It (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Oct 2019 OP
That will... Newest Reality Oct 2019 #1

Newest Reality

(12,712 posts)
1. That will...
Tue Oct 15, 2019, 05:14 PM
Oct 2019

That will be a very nice gift to the AI that replaces us. It can pour over it after we are gone in order to complete the data sets for the Anthropocene era.

Augmented transhumans may also find it useful for immersive simulations.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»Scientists Want to Make a...