Why Does My Google Earth Have Low Resolution?

Many Google Earth images are at a low resolution for reasons ranging from unavailability of high-quality images for a geographic area to cloud cover. For security reasons in some areas of the world, Google Earth will provide only low-quality, pixelated images that obscure details of buildings or important installations.

Since Google Earth’s introduction in 2005, Google has constantly updated its database of images to provide up-to-date, high-quality aerial images. Some are available in three-dimensional views. Google obtains the imagery from a number of sources, including satellites, airplanes, hot-air balloons and even model airplanes. Google uses the best imagery it has available, but some aerial images may be as much as 3 years old. Google Earth users can use program options to control resolution. The lowest resolution is 256-by-256 pixels; the highest available is 1,024-by-1,024 pixels.

Resolution available for a particular geographical area largely depends on Google Earth user interest. Large cities, major points of interest and historical landmarks generally can be viewed at higher resolutions, and sometimes in 3-D. An October 2008 PC World article reported some images available in resolutions as high as two feet per screen pixel. Remote areas of the world, including oceans and deserts, generally are less detailed.

Google Earth’s aerial images of certain areas are intentionally obscured for security purposes. For example, the roof of the White House is digitally altered to conceal security installations, according to a June 2009 article by Focus. Images of some military bases where buildings and other objects could be potential targets are pixelated. Among them are Reims Air Force Base in France, the NATO C3 Agency in Brussels, Belgium, and the NATO Air Base in Geilenkirchen, Germany.

Images of the nation of Israel are heavily pixelated, according to a June 2011 article by PC World. Israel is subject to what’s known as the “one-meter threshold,” which means that U.S. companies, including Google, can show images of Israel at no higher resolution than one pixel per square meter. The 1997 National Defense Authorization Act included a provision limiting the resolution of commercially distributed satellite imagery of Israel.

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