The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) just launched a new service in Second Life and what's their agenda this time? The weather bureau just bought a whole island to themselves and will be offering some educational experiences to your virtual avatars.

Called Meteora, the new island was launched last Thursday by NOAA's Earth System Research Lab. They'll have a planetarium, a tsunami-training beach, and offer submarine, hurricane, and weather balloon rides. As part of a statement, ESRL director Alexander MacDonald said:

We're experimenting with new ways to conduct science and public education that appeal to a different sensibility and may help a new audience get excited about Earth science... Our site offers visitors a way to experience the planet through reality-based virtual adventures...