EVS-Islands

The above map shows some of my completed island mapping projects. Each icon contains the name of the primary island associated with the project and a link to the post. Once all of my projects are posted, the map will be covered with icons. To productively use the map, zoom into a region of interest. Then select an icon.

Each of my maps is constructed of numerous layers of information. All of the layers are vector files. I will make these files available upon request. You are free to use them with certain restrictions - 1) Don't sell them. You can use them on research projects, post them to your website or things of that nature. If you aren't sure about the use of my maps, drop me a line and we can discuss your idea. 2) Give me credit when you use my vectors or images of my maps. Credit them to Peter Minton @ EVS-Islands

If I have the island vector file(s) and based upon your need, I will make them available. Images of my maps are yours to download and use, with the above restrictions applicable. Enjoy!

Friday, April 18, 2008

Thoughts - How and Why I Did What I Did When I Did What I Did

Titan's Methane Seas - Radar Swaths PIA 10008 Modified

Reviewing my RSS science links, I came across an article describing Titan's liquid methane seas that were imaged by the Cassini spacecraft. The article contained a link to the base image of these seas, PIA10008. Studying these seas, I noticed what looked like islands. There they were swimming in a methane sea. Not one or two, but an entire archipelago of islands scatter about the sea. I figured I would construct a map of the islands. To begin my extraterrestrial island mapping project, I downloaded the base image, PIA10008. I was able to determine the appropriate lat/lon grid and this allowed me to georectify the base image. Using Global Mapper v9.01 software, my favorite digitizing software, I created vector shorelines for the islands within the methane sea. A few days later, I went ahead and digitized the entire shoreline of this unnamed methane sea.

Titan's Unnamed Methane Sea

I selected a funky mustard color for the land and pretty blue for the sea and rivers. The resulting map was posted and then the world came to view my creation. I have made so many maps of islands that I failed to appreciate just what I had fashioned - a first map of an extraterrestrial sea and islands. I feel I've made more satisfying maps of islands, but this other worldly depiction is still widely viewed, vigorously discussed and enjoyed by thousands of readers.

Life is swell when you are able to create something appreciated by an audience of first time visitors to your website. I am pleased that my efforts have fired the imagination of island lovers throughout the world.

Enjoy!

Labels: Cassini, Global Mapper, NASA, Titan

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/18/2008 06:50:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Claw Island GL - Retreating Ice Reveals a New Island in Greenland

Ice Surrounds Mountain Peaks or Islands?

This Looks Like An Island

This is Definitely An Island - Claw Island GL

These series of images were displayed and discussed at EO Newsroom. As the ice covering Greenland melts at an alarming rate, many more new islands will be revealed. For an island person, such as I, each new island revealed is exciting. I only wish it could be done without melting ice caps which will eventually cause catastrophic problems for our global community.

Enjoy the new island! Not the other stuff.

Labels: EO Newsroom, Greenland, island, NASA

Posted by Mr Minton at 6/03/2007 10:29:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Data - Gridded Lightning Data (Oh, Yeah and It's Free)

Crash! Boom! Bang!

I currently live in mostly sunny California, but I have resided in places where the sky cracks and rumbles - places of thunder and lightning.

NASA has an ongoing effort to collect Lightning data for a number of years. They include, on their site, a number of datasets which includes some excellent raster image maps.

Based on the map above, if you want to study lightning, go to central Africa. Interestingly, the Kashmir Region between India and Pakistan appears to rumble with high intensity as well.

Included is an interesting QT movie that shows 7-years of global lightning data. You will appreciate our living planet after viewing the movie.

Explore NASA's site, you will not be disappointed.

Enjoy!

Labels: lightning, map, NASA, thunder

Posted by Mr Minton at 11/01/2006 06:33:00 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post