Visualization of the Global Terrain

Last update on December 26, 1997

This site presents a global 3D topographic map in VRML 2.0,
based on the U.S. Geological Survey's GTOPO30 Digital Elevation Model data.
Colors are used to specify elevations on the maps.

To view the maps, a VRML 2.0 plug-in or browser is needed.

A globe in VRML 2.0.

Click here for my global 3D topomap in VRML2.0. (Size: 3.1 MB)
Please touch vertical cones to animate the elevations.
(The resolution is 2 data point per degree; 720 x 180 data points)

COLOR LEGEND:
(Elevations are in meters; 1 meter = 3.28 feet)
(Colors are continuously interpolated in RGB space from one color to another)
colorselevation
cyan8000
white5000
dark wood3750
wood3000
red2250
orange1500
yellow750
light green250
green100
dark green1
dark blue0
gray-1
black-450

From the map, we can clearly see that the Antartica and Greenland are mostly much more than 2000 meters in elevation. I wonder how deep of ice covers those lands. If global warming is in effect, the ice will melt into water and the sea level will go up. Then, coastal lowland will disappear and the world map will change. Stay tuned for the global map under global warming.
Please see my other 3D topomaps.
The 3D topomaps are created by Augustine Su (su@csdl.tamu.edu)