New online tool lets users explore the world's ambient sounds on a virtual globe

A new online project called Earth Garden offers users an interactive globe filled with environmental field recordings from around the planet. The tool was highlighted by The Verge's weekend editor, Terrence O'Brien.

The concept draws inspiration from Radio Garden, the well-known site that lets people listen to radio stations worldwide by selecting points on a map. Earth Garden follows a similar format, but instead of live radio broadcasts, it streams environmental audio recordings.

Sounds from around the globe

Among the recordings available are waves lapping against the shores of remote islands in the Atlantic, a chorus of crickets recorded in Tanzania, and the sound of rainfall on the streets of Manhattan — with rain recordings appearing especially frequently across the collection.

All the audio clips are pulled from Freesound, an open sound-sharing library, which means both quality and volume levels can vary considerably between recordings. Because the content relies on user submissions, recordings also tend to be more concentrated in the United States and Europe, particularly the United Kingdom.

Despite these limitations, the project is described as an enjoyable and soothing way to pass time. Users can set the globe to rotate automatically, with the audio smoothly transitioning as the on-screen marker approaches new points on the map. There is also an option to layer generic ambient drone sounds in the background for a more relaxing listening experience.