After publishing the blog entry about the SS Edmund Fitzgerald earlier today, it seems like a good time to announce a related story. Greg Lang of the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab wrote me yesterday to reveal their recent web page with several interesting GE KMZ files. First, they have two files which are updated 4 times per day showing real-time surface temperature 
of the lakes, and wave heights (I’ve already suggested they change these to network links). They also have a bathymetry file (depths) for the lakes.
It’s good to see another NOAA lab supporting KML/KMZ file types so more people can access this government sponsored data. I encourage governments in all countries to share important scientific and especially environmental data via KML/KMZ which is supported by Google Earth and other free virtual globe applications.
Related:
- NWS supports Radar Loop Animations
- Status of the World’s Coral Reefs
- Severe Weather Data from NOAA
- Aurora Viewing Map
About Frank Taylor
Frank Taylor started the Google Earth Blog in July, 2005 shortly after Google Earth was first released. He has worked with 3D computer graphics and VR for many years and was very impressed with this exciting product. Frank completed a 5.5 year circumnavigation of the earth by sailboat in June 2015 which you can read about at Tahina Expedition, and is a licensed pilot, backpacker, diver, and photographer.
Thanks for the beautiful Great Lakes pictures and information.