It’s no secret that people have rapidly adopted and are adopting latest mobile devices, transforming the way that they obtain and interact with information about the world. Taking advantage of this trend, climate communicators have designed some smartphone and tablet apps to tell climate stories in new ways.
Here are some apps developed by NASA to display climate changes. Earth Now
It’s free, amazing and puts Earth in the palm of your hands. NASA’s “Earth Now” app displays real-time global satellite data of your planet’s vital signs. Great for students, teachers and anyone interested in Earth science, this 3D app can be your go-to source for carbon dioxide conditions, gravity anomalies, ozone levels over Antarctica and more. You can download it in your Apple or Android device to keep your eye on the Earth.
Images of Change
Human activities, a changing climate and natural disasters are rapidly altering the face of our planet. Both NASA and ground photographers have captured these changes in the form of eye-opening before-and-after images of phenomena ranging from glacial retreat to urbanization. The app presents pairs or sets of images of places around the world that have changed dramatically. Some of these locations have suffered a disaster, such as a fire or tsunami, or illustrate the effects of human activities, such as dam building or urban growth. Others document impacts of climate change such as persistent drought and rapidly receding glaciers. Download it for free in your iPhone and iPad to learn about your changing world.
Offset
NASA’s educational game, Offset, is a pong-like game and a resource management game all in one. The global carbon cycle—and humans' role in altering it—is key to understanding both how the climate system works and how people can help to affect positive change in the future. Delivering this message to younger audiences will be a crucial step in inspiring the next generation of climate scientists. The player simultaneously spends resources to replace old technology with greener technology while he or she actively prevents Carbon dioxide molecules from escaping to the atmosphere with a paddle. The game is fast, simple but challenging, and educational. Games like OFFSET can be a powerful tool to teach climate science to younger audiences.