About & data
Built to make the science tangible
Terra turns trusted climate data into something you can spin, drag and play with - because understanding is the first step to action.
What this is
An independent, educational project: a single interactive home for the big picture of climate change. It pairs a 3D globe with calculators, simulators, a disaster timeline, before/after comparisons and a quiz - all designed to be explored, not just read.
Data sources
The global temperature record (warming stripes & trend) is the real NASA GISTEMP v4 series, and the CO₂ curve is the actual NOAA Mauna Loa record, baked in at build time. Country-level risk indices and the scenario/sea-level models are synthesized composites - representative in direction and magnitude, illustrative for exploration, not a substitute for the primary datasets.
IPCC AR6
Warming levels, scenario pathways (SSPs), impacts and tipping points.
NASA GISTEMP
Global temperature anomaly record used for the warming stripes.
Global Carbon Project
National and global CO₂ emissions.
NSIDC
Arctic and Antarctic sea-ice extent.
NOAA / Mauna Loa
Atmospheric CO₂ concentration.
World Bank CKP
Country climate exposure and adaptation indicators.
ND-GAIN Index
National vulnerability and readiness scores.
Our World in Data
Per-capita emissions, energy mix and disaster data.
World Weather Attribution
Whether and how much climate change influenced specific disasters.
Methodology & caveats
- Country risk indices (flood, drought, sea-level, heat) are composite 0-100 scores blended from exposure and vulnerability data - useful for comparison, not precise prediction.
- The future simulator interpolates IPCC SSP pathway anchors and applies simple transfer functions from warming to impacts; treat outputs as intuition-builders.
- The sea-level tool combines global rise with local land subsidence; real flood risk also depends on defences, tides and storm surge.
- The carbon calculator uses lifestyle averages; your real footprint depends on local grids and specific choices.
- Disaster attribution statements reflect the consensus of rapid-attribution studies where available.
Built with
Next.js, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, Framer Motion, Three.js (react-globe.gl) and Recharts - exported as a fast static site. Designed mobile-first, keyboard-navigable, and respectful of reduced-motion preferences.
This site is for education and is not affiliated with any of the organizations named above. Always consult primary sources and peer-reviewed science for research or decision-making.