AFP Yahoo News 15 Jul 10;
LONDON (AFP) - – British ministers on Wednesday launched a new Google Earth map designed to show the potential impact of temperature rises of four degrees Celsius.
The interactive map lets members of the public see the dramatic changes that could occur if action is not taken to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Significant alterations include higher temperatures over land compared to the sea, and extreme temperature increases in the Arctic, according to the map.
It was created using analysis from the Met Office Hadley Centre, a largely state-funded climate change research unit that advises government, and other leading scientists in the field, according to a Foreign Office statement.
Unveiling the map, Foreign Office minister Henry Bellingham said it demonstrated the new government's determination to tackle climate change and show a wide audience the dangers or rising temperatures.
"The threat from climate change has not gone away and this government is committed to doing what it can to take action," he said.
"We are committed to being the 'greenest' government ever."
Greg Barker, energy and climate change minister, said: "This map reinforces our determination to act against dangerous man-made climate change."
Vicky Pope, from the Met Office, added: "If greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, global average temperatures could increase by four degrees Celsius by the end of the century, and possibly as early as 2060."
The map can be viewed at: www.fco.gov.uk/google-earth-4degrees.kml.
Google Earth must already be installed for the application to work.
