Google prototype showing deforestation in Brazil. (Via Google.org)

As the world gathers this week at the International Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, there's an interesting subplot playing out between Microsoft and Google. Both companies are trying to position themselves to supply technology that scientists can use to better understand the environment, and they're using the event to talk about their efforts.

At the conference today, Google showed a technology prototype that uses cloud computing to analyze deforestation trends around the world, allowing scientists and government officials to detect not only long-term trends but also recent incidents of illegal logging. The company's philanthropic Google.org arm plans to release the technology for scientists and others to use for free.

Craig Mundie, Microsoft's chief research and strategy officer, also showed a prototype computer model deforestation during his recent college tour. Mundie used it as an example of programs that can leverage many computer processors to work with huge amounts of data and glean new insights into the world's problems. It's one of many Microsoft Research projects dealing with the environment.

Microsoft is also active at the climate change conference, giving presentations and taking part in a series of sessions and highlighting the role that technology can play in environmental issues. Rob Bernard, the company's chief environmental strategist, was scheduled to give a presentation on the topic in Copenhagen today. Also see this recent video in which Bernard talks about the company's approach.

(Google link via TechCrunch)