New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Formative Assessment: Google Earth

You have probably already noticed that New Orleans is the only U.S. city to make both list A and B and it is #2 on list B which lists flood losses as a % of the city's GDP. Keep this in mind. First you will explore New Orleans in the same way you explored Guangzhou. To begin, orient yourself by reading the profile of New Orleans here.

Google Earth: Fly to New Orleans by clicking on the city's name in the Google earth My Places pane to the left of the screen. Due to the uniformly flat topography of New Orleans, you will need to zoom in closer in order for Google Earth to show accurate elevation numbers. Also, when measuring elevation, make sure to mouse over streets or open ground as trees and buildings will give an artificially higher elevation. A few feet of elevation makes a world of difference in such a flat terrain.

Assignment

1. You have been provided with a KMZ file containing all of the cities listed on the "Compare Cities" Page. Save this file on your computer.
2. Open Google Earth on your computer and open the KMZ file by going to file → open. The file will show on the left hand sidebar pane (make sure you have this visible by clicking on the "show sidebar" icon at top left).
3. Click the box next to the KMZ file so it is checked. You can click on any of the city's names and Google Earth and you will fly to that location.
4. Begin by clicking on New Orleans, LA, U.S.

Zoom to 3 km eye altitude or less in order to explore the elevations within the city. Complete the chart below as you did for Guangzhou. Be sure to enter your answers in the Module 1 Assessment.

×

This screenshot of New Orleans at approximately 20 mi (~35 km) eye altitude captures most of the city in one view. The footprint of New Orleans is limited by its low elevation and location surrounded by water and wetlands.
Credit: Google Earth

• Additional Exploration (Online Version)
• Record Your Findings