Climate change scientists and organisations responding to natural disasters have a new tool to help them visualise weather and geography across Asia.

A web-based geospatial information platform called Servir has established a new centre in Nepal to gather satellite images and other data.
NASA administrator Charles F. Bolden launched the service at a function organised by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu.

The system, a version of which also operates over Central America and Africa, will help monitor the melting of Himalayan glaciers as well as helping to map how flooding might affect communities.

A beta version is available at www.servirglobal.net.