Frequently Asked Questions:

Google Earth systems requirements, common questions, and basic functionality

Minimum and recommended system configurations
Common Questions about Google Earth
Getting to know Google Earth
New features in Version 4.0
Navigating in Google Earth
Finding places and directions
Marking places on the earth
Showing or hiding points of interest
Sightseeing

Functionality of the ReefTemp application

How do I know which stress index image I am currently viewing?
How do I change the stress index image?
How can I look at images from a previous date?
I have selected a stress index from another date so why has the image not changed?
How do I search for a reef?
After I search for a reef, how do I close the folder showing all 1600+ reef names?
How can I turn off the Reef Labels?
How can I turn off the Reefs and Coastline?

For questions on data acquisition, calculation of climatologies, calculation of thermal stress indices, representation of bleaching risk, data and image processing, and Google Earth application development and automation, please refer to the Technical Overview downloadable here.

How do I know which stress index image I am currently viewing?

As default ReefTemp opens up the most recent SST image. The legend for each of the stress indices, presented in the right-hand side of the viewer is labelled. Google Earth presents the images hierarchically by calendar date and index order so if you cannot see the index you thought you had selected you will need to deselect any of the other stress indices that you have been viewing.

How do I change the stress index image?

Under the ‘Places’ menu on the left-hand side, check the box next to the stress index that you would like to view by clicking inside the open box.  Google Earth presents the images hierarchically by calendar date and index order so you will need to deselect any of the other stress indices that you have been viewing.

How can I look at images from a previous date?

Under the ‘Places' menu on the left-hand side, browse through the last seven days or previous weeks by clicking on the + sign next to the box by each date.  When you have found the date you are interested in check the box next to the stress index that you would like to view by clicking inside the open box. Google Earth presents the images hierarchically by calendar date so you will need to deselect any of the other stress indices that you have been viewing.  It can be tiresome to look through the dates later on in your session if you do not subsequently click on the + sign next to each date to shut the folders.

I have selected a stress index from another date so why has the image not changed?

Google Earth presents the images hierarchically by calendar date and index order so you will need to deselect any of the other stress indices that you have been viewing.  A date stamp has been added to the bottom left hand corner of the Google Earth viewer.  This stamp tells you the date of the image you are currently viewing and can, therefore, alert you as to whether you need to go back to the ‘Places’ menu on the left-hand side and deselect a more recent date.

How do I search for a reef?

Press Ctrl F at any time and a find box will appear at the bottom of the ‘Places’ menu on the left-hand side.  Type in the GBR name of the reef you would like to search for and all matching reef names will be brought up.  By double clicking on a reef name the Google Earth viewer will automatically navigate you to the reef at an eye altitude of 50 km.

After I search for a reef, how do I close the folder showing all 1600+ reef names?

Under the ‘Places’ menu on the left-hand side scroll up until you see an open folder called 'Reef Labels'.  Click on the – sign next to the checked box to hide that folders contents.

How can I turn off the Reef Labels?

Under the ‘Places’ menu on the left-hand side scroll up until you see a folder called 'Reef Labels' and remove the check in the box next to the folder name by clicking inside the box.  Alternatively, you can check the box by clicking inside it again to restore the Reef Labels layer.

How can I turn off the Reefs and Coastline?

Under the ‘Places’ menu on the left-hand side scroll up until you see a folder called 'Reefs/Coastline' and remove the check in the box next to the folder name by clicking inside the box.  Alternatively, you can check the box by clicking inside it again to restore the Reefs and Coastline layer.