Geoscience applications of client/server scripts, Google Fusion Tables, and dynamic KML

Keyhole Markup Language (KML)--a type of extensible markup language (XML)--is the key to the extensibility of Google Earth for geoscience applications. Static KML code may be saved to a file from the Google Earth desktop application, handwritten with a text editor, or generated by running a custom computer program. Many Google Earth visualizations are limited to static KML developed with the desktop application's user interface. The purpose of this paper is to highlight how much more is possible with the implementation of additional applications. Geoscience learning resources may be taken to the next level with the interactive generation and animation of graphics and models both in the desktop application and using the Google Earth web browser plug-in and its JavaScript application programing interface. Dynamic KML may be generated on-the-fly by means of client-side or server-side scripts, or with the aid of Google Fusion Tables and network links.