The Local Climate Change maps depict the projected local standardized climactic change until 2100 A.D. The maps show that local climate change is predicted to be largest in the tropical and subtropical regions, with high values over most of Africa, South America, and southern Eurasia. Local Climate Change and its companion maps, Novel Climates and Disappearing Climates, were created by John W. Williams, Stephen T. Jackson, and John E. Kutzbach and described in "Projected distributions of novel and disappearing climates 2100 AD," published by PNAS. The ten maps in the collection cover two different ranges of C02 increase (A2 at 856 ppm, and B1 at 549 ppm), and three different ways of viewing the data: novel climates, disappearing climates, and local changes. The map value is a standardized scalar index of climate dissimilarity (SED) between the end of the 20th and the end of the 21st centuries. The climate variables used in the model were temperature and precipitation for both the June-August and December-February periods. The map series also contains A2 and B1 scenarios at 500km - the pool of potential analogs is restricted to gridpoints within 500 km of each target gridpoint. Maps in the series were based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Emissions A2 and B1 scenarios. Map data was converted for use in TerraViva!® global data-viewing software by ISCIENCES, L.L.C., Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

The Disappearing Climates maps depict areas where projected climate trends until 2100 A.D. will result in the disappearance of some extant climates. Disappearing climates are primarily concentrated in tropical mountains and the poleward sides of continents. The areas of disappearing climates closely overlay regions identified as critical hotspots of biological diversity, including the Andes, Mesoamerica, southern and eastern Afica, Himalyas, Philippines, and Wallacea. Affected areas include the Columbian and Peruvian Andes, African Rift Mountains, and the Zambian and Angolan Highlands. Disappearing Climates and its companion maps, Novel Climates and Local Climate Change, were created by John W. Williams, Stephen T. Jackson, and John E. Kutzbach and described in "Projected distributions of novel and disappearing climates 2100 AD," published by PNAS. The ten maps in the collection cover two different ranges of C02 increase (A2 at 856 ppm, and B1 at 549 ppm), and three different ways of viewing the data: novel climates, disappearing climates, and local changes. The map value is a standardized scalar index of climate dissimilarity (SED) between the end of the 20th and the end of the 21st centuries. The climate variables used in the model were temperature and precipitation for both the June-August and December-February periods. The map series also contains A2 and B1 scenarios at 500km - the pool of potential analogs is restricted to gridpoints within 500 km of each target gridpoint. Maps in the series were based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Emissions A2 and B1 scenarios. Map data was converted for use in TerraViva!® global data-viewing software by ISCIENCES, L.L.C., Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

The Novel Climates map depicts the development of novel 21st-century climates, climates that include conditions not experienced at present. Novel Climates and its companion maps, Disappearing Climates and Local Climate Change, were created by John W. Williams, Stephen T. Jackson, and John E. Kutzbach and described in "Projected distributions of novel and disappearing climates 2100 AD," published by PNAS. The ten maps in the collection cover two different ranges of C02 increase (A2 at 856 ppm, and B1 at 549 ppm), and three different ways of viewing the data: novel climates, disappearing climates, and local changes. The map value is a standardized scalar index of climate dissimilarity (SED) between the end of the 20th and the end of the 21st centuries. The climate variables used in the model were temperature and precipitation for both the June-August and December-February periods. The map series also contains A2 and B1 scenarios at 500km - the pool of potential analogs is restricted to gridpoints within 500 km of each target gridpoint. Novel climates, as modeled in this series, are projected to develop primarily in the tropics and subtropics, and will occupy a spatially cohesive subset of areas experiencing high local climate change. Maps in the series were based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Emissions A2 and B1 scenarios. Map data was converted for use in TerraViva!® global data-viewing software by ISCIENCES, L.L.C., Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

Anthropogenic Biomes (Anthromes) offer a new way to understand our living planet by describing the way humans have reshaped its ecological patterns and processes. The map is based on a system of 21 Anthrome classes divided into 6 broad groups, as described in Ellis and Ramankutty (2008; Anthromes v1). The biosphere has long been described using global ecosystem units called biomes, which are vegetation types like tropical rainforests and grasslands that are identified in relation to global patterns of climate. Anthropogenic biomes, also known as "anthromes" or "human biomes", describe the terrestrial biosphere in its contemporary, human-altered form using global ecosystem units defined by global patterns of sustained direct human interaction with ecosystems, offering a new way forward for ecological research and education.

The Population Density 2007 map depicts estimated human population per square kilometer across the entire globe. The map is based on LandScan™ 2007 Global Population Database (GP2007) from Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL).

The Global Land Cover 2000 Map is based on global land classifications produced by the Institute for Environment and Sustainability’s (IES) Global Vegetation Monitoring Unit, part of the Joint Research Committee (JRC), a service arm of the European Commission. Map data was converted for use in TerraViva!® global data-viewing software by ISCIENCES, L.L.C., Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. The map illustrates the distribution of surface materials or “land cover” over the entire globe. This map helps to show the major ecological systems that exist such as forests, grasslands, and cultivated areas. By exploring this map, you can understand the expanse of each of these ecosystems since the colors defining each area are easily distinguishable from each other. The Global Land Cover 2000 Map was published in geographic projection at 30 arc-seconds resolution, and so was losslessly compressed to the high resolution TerraViva!® map layer. Lower resolution map layers were then derived from this layer to enable quicker data access when viewing the entire world. Two color tables were then attached to the map, one duplicating the colors of the original source image, and one similar to color schemes used for other TerraViva landcover maps (derived from MODIS and AVHRR sensors) to allow easier visual comparisons among the various maps. The Global Land Cover 2000 Map comes from the global land classifications produced by the Institute for Environment and Sustainability’s (IES) Global Vegetation Monitoring Unit. The IES is part of the Joint Research Committee (JRC) and their goal is to offer support, both technological and scientific, to the European Union as they propose ways to protect the environment. Along with Global Land Cover 2000 (GLC 2000) database, the IES hosts several other databases including the WMO World Data Center for Aerosols and the European Soil Database. GLC 2000 database, which was used to create the Global Land Cover 2000 Map, was the first of its kind to depict the entire planet with its complete land cover using a 1km resolution. GLC 2000 was chosen as part of the information set for the Millennium Ecosystems Assessment.

Global Coastline v1 is a global map at 1 arc-second of resolution (approximately 30 meters at the equator) defining which areas of the earth are land and which are ocean or sea. Global Coastline v1 was created by ISCIENCES, L.L.C., Ann Arbor, Michigan. The dataset was produced using USGS SRTM Water Body Data, with corrections; and NOAA World Vector Shoreline data for areas above 60 degrees north, outside of the SRTM coverage area. Global Coastline v1 provides a greater degree of accuracy within the SRTM coverage area. Future updates are planned to improve accuracy in non-SRTM covered areas. Global Coastline v1 dataset contains the same coastline definition as both a map mask (polygons) and as a map outline (line-based vector data layer). The image above shows the global vector at 30 arc-sec. (Click on the thumbnail to view a 1 arc-sec image: Global Coastline v1 one arc-sec vector data is shown in yellow, VMAP0 in cyan, and World Vector Shoreline in red, over an image from NaturalVue (MDA Federal) of a tiny island west of Sumatra.)

A Global Map of Human Impact on Marine Ecosystems dataset was published February 15, 2008. The dataset was constructed by Bernard S. Halpern, et al, through work conducted at the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at the University of California at Santa Barbara, and involved 19 scientists from a range of universities, NGOs, and government agencies. (See full citation below.) By overlaying maps of 17 different activities such as fishing, climate change and pollution, researchers produced a composite map of the toll that humans have exacted on the seas.

The Blue Marble map is a true-color image of every square kilometer of our planet, created from data gathered by a collection of satellite-based instruments. Data on the land surface, oceans, sea ice, and clouds were used to compose this virtual image of the Earth. The map is based on information from a single remote-sensing device - NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS. The land and coastal ocean portions of these maps are based on surface observations collected from June through September 2001. Each image in the Blue Marble series recreates the visceral impact of viewing Earth from space with human eyes.

The Blue Marble map is a true-color image of every square kilometer of our planet, created from data gathered by a collection of satellite-based instruments. Data on the land surface, oceans, sea ice, and clouds were used to compose this virtual image of the Earth. The map is based on information from a single remote-sensing device - NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS. The land and coastal ocean portions of these maps are based on surface observations collected from June through September 2001. Each image in the Blue Marble series recreates the visceral impact of viewing Earth from space with human eyes.

GlobCover Land Cover v2 is a global land cover map at 10 arc second (300 meter) resolution. Its 22 global land cover classes are defined within the UN Land Cover Classification System (LCCS). GlobCover LC v2 was developed as part of the GlobCover project, a European Space Agency (ESA) initiative in partnership with JRC, EEA, FAO, UNEP, GOFC-GOLD, and IGBP. GlobCover products are based on the ENVISAT satellite mission's MERIS sensor (Medium Resolution Image Spectrometer) Level 1B data acquired in Full Resolution (FR) mode with a spatial resolution of 300 meters. GlobCover LC v2 was derived from an automatic and regionally-tuned classification of a time series of MERIS FR composites covering the period December 2004-June 2006.

(See also: National Political Boundaries 2008.) The Sub-National Political Boundaries map identifies nearly 3000 unique sub-national administrative entities. In most cases sub-national boundaries are 1st-level administrative units (states and provinces). The Sub-National Political Boundaries map is derived from many sources, rigorously researched in order to use best available sources for each country. All boundaries are derived from open sources or from copyrighted sources in a manner to protect respective interests. Sources include World Factbook 2006 (CIA) and United Nations Second Administrative Level Boundaries (SALB) project (ongoing).

(See also: Sub-National Political Boundaries 2008.) The National Political Boundaries Map is derived from many sources, rigorously researched in order to use best available sources known for each country. All boundaries are derived from open sources or adapted from copyrighted sources in a manor to protect respective interests. Sources include the LandScan dataset (GP2001) produced by Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL) and World Factbook 2006 (CIA). Map data was converted for use in TerraViva!® global data-viewing software by ISCIENCES, L.L.C., Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Nominal political boundaries are displayed, identifying 262 unique entities, including 192 independent states and 70 other areas of special interest, such as Antarctica, other dependencies or special sovereignties such as Hong Kong or Taiwan, and numerous bodies of water.

The Elevation Source Map tracks the source of data used for each pixel in the Elevation and Depth Map and indicates value-added modifications made by the data creator. The Elevation and Depth Source Map is a companion to the Elevation and Depth Map. Map data was created for use in TerraViva!® global data-viewing software by ISCIENCES, L.L.C., Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

The Elevation and Depth Map v2 shows the height of the Earth's land surfaces and the depths of its ocean floors for the entire world. This latest version incorporates an improved coastline dataset. The Elevation and Depth Map v2 combines and corrects anomalies in three datasets: SRTM30, ETOPO2, and GTOPO30. The Elevation and Depth v2 map was created by ISCIENCES, L.L.C., Ann Arbor, Michigan. To create the map ISciences constructed a global composite from elevation sources, rectified anomalies, computed slope and aspect, and added depth data. The land elevation portion of this map is derived from NASA’s SRTM30 (2000) digital elevation data, Version 1.1, where that was available, and from USGS’s GTOPO30 elevation data for areas not covered by SRTM and for voids in SRTM coverage areas. Additionally, to reduce visual discontinuity between blended data, ISciences reconstructed some areas that had been filled with GTOPO30 data by using interpolated values from derived contour lines. The depth portion is derived from the National Oceanic and Space Administration (NOAA) National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) ETOPO2 global digital terrain model (2001).

The Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) is a measure of overall progress towards environmental sustainability, developed for 146 countries. The ESI 2005 is based on the Environmental Sustainability Index 2005 database produced by CIESIN at Columbia University and the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy (YCELP) in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the European Community’s Joint Research Centre, and distributed by the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.

The Tuberculosis and Malaria dataset is based on several sources: Global Burden of Diseases 2002 (revised); World Malaria Report 1990-2004; WHO Global Atlas of Infectious Diseases; World Health Report 2003, 2004, and 2005; and WHO Global Tuberculosis Control Reports 1998-2005, all of which are distributed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Tuberculosis and Malaria dataset is a time-series database containing 94 variables from 1989-2005 about the, economy, demographics, and diseases of 192 countries of the world. Data was converted for use in TerraViva!® global data-viewing software by ISCIENCES, L.L.C., Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

The World Factbook is published by the United States Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Directorate of Intelligence. The World Factbook is a compendium of statistics and general information about the geography, economy, people, government and infrastructure of 263 countries, territories and oceans of the world. ISciences produced a multiyear version of the World Factbook (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) as an interesting demonstration of time series capabilities in ISciences’ TerraViva!® global data-viewing software. Data users should note that the data provider (CIA) explicitly states that these data are not comparable from year to year, and that the data provider does not endorse any use of these data as evidence of longitudinal trends. Data was compiled for use in TerraViva!® global data-viewing software by ISCIENCES, L.L.C., Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) dataset is based on the Millennium Development Report 2006, created to report progress on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, an outcome of the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 2000. MDG data are the product of the work of the Inter-agency and Expert Group (IAEG) on MDG Indicators, coordinated by the United Nations Statistics Division. MDG is a time-series database, which uses indicators, such as population using improved sanitation facilities, population below national poverty line, people living with HIV, and carbon dioxide emissions, to assess progress over the period from 1990 to 2015. Data was converted for use in TerraViva!® global data-viewing software by ISCIENCES, L.L.C., Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

The International Energy Annual 2004 dataset is based on the International Energy Annual 2004 database produced by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), US Dept. of Energy (DOE), and was released May-July 2006. The International Energy Annual 2004 database contains time series variables related to international energy statistics. For many series, data begin with the year 1980. The database reflects key international energy trends for production, consumption, imports, and exports of primary energy commodities in over 220 countries, dependencies, and areas of special sovereignty. Data was converted for use in TerraViva!® global data-viewing software by ISCIENCES, L.L.C., Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.