For the last five years, Google Earth has provided a real-time image of the world. Now scientists have produced an additional function to show the possible future impacts of climate change on the earth.

The new Google Earth climate change map shows how the world would be affected by a global average temperature increase of 4°C (7°F) in a bid to rebuild public trust in climate science.

This is a simulation of possible, plausible impacts that are consistent with the science involved. The map illustrates rising water levels and reduced crop yields around the world, and also offers some adaptation options to the impacts.

Agricultural productivity is assessed as one of the most complex sectors to be affected by climate change, with agricultural yields expected to decrease for all major cereal crops in major regions of production, once the global average temperature increases beyond 3°C. Especially in low latitudes, maize and wheat yields could reduce by up to 40%, and soybean yield could decrease in all regions of production, including North and South America, southern and eastern Asia. The map also shows a possible decrease in rice yield of up to 30% in China, India, Bangladesh and India.

Subsequently, there would be a 10-20% increase in the number of those at risk of hunger, accounting for some hundreds of millions of people, the majority of who live in sub-Saharan Africa, south Asia and Central America. Estimates increase the number of malnourished children in 2050 by 24 million.

The UK’s Foreign Office (FCO) and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) launched the map to counter the sustained scepticism over scientific research into anthropogenic global warming, and for the public to understand the risks of allowing unmitigated climate change.

The online map is available, for people who have Google Earth installed, at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/google-earth-4degrees.kml