Time Series in Google Earth
Some of our Google Earth files, such as the sea ice file, include
a time series of images, depicting variability or changes over
time. When files include time information, you can use the time slider
in Google Earth to play the series of images as an animation, to
control the speed of the animation, and to stop and start the animation
on any selected time span.
To use the time slider, you must have Google Earth version
4.0.2080 (Windows, Linux) or 4.0.2722
(Mac) or later.
Enabling the Time Slider
To use the time slider, from the "View" menu in Google
Earth, make sure that "Show Time"->"Always" is
checked. Then, when a KML or KMZ file with time information is
opened, the time slider will appear. Setting "Show Time" to "Automatic" makes
the time slider appear only when the mouse is hovering in the correct
region (top of the screen, just right of center).
Enabling the time slider in Google
Earth
Using the Time Slider Controls
To play the animation, click on the Play button (the dark
gray arrowhead at the right of the slider). Click the Pause button
(dual bars) to stop the animation.
You can adjust the time span of the images by dragging
the vertical edges of the time range markers. You can also grab
the bottom edge to move the range backwards and forwards through
the total time range of the file. NSIDC files with time information
work best with the time span on the slider minimized.
The white arrows on either side of the time slider step the animation
forward or backward.
 
The time slider and its controls
Advanced Options
The clock icon, on the far left of the time slider, opens the
advanced options dialog. The slider within the dialog controls the animation
speed. Most animations work best with the speed at the slowest (furthest left) setting. The "Repeat
Mode" choice in the lower right corner allows you to set the animation to wrap (loop),
bounce (back and forth), or play only once.
Options dialog for the time slider
Performance Considerations
Unless they are intended to be complimentary, time series animations
rarely work well together. We recommend viewing only one time series
animation at a time. Check the box labeled "Restrict time to currently selected folder" to enforce this behavior automatically.
Time series animations can be memory and CPU intensive. Larger image sets may have performance impacts on older computers.
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