7 May, 2006

Pass the water wings

Firtree.net uses a Google Maps 'hack' to display the hypothetical effect of polar icecaps melting and global sea levels rising by up to 14m.

The underlying assumptions are a little flawed (low-lying but totally land-locked parts of Africa are shown as at risk of flooding, and altitude is the sole considered criterion for inundation, ignoring current and future flood defences), and some of the altitude data seems odd, especially in cities, but it's an interesting rough indication.