Casey Smith

ARE5930C: Mapping & Place

4/3/2018
Mapping Final Progress
I started off in the GIS site to see what kind of data sets I could find from NOAA on
pollution in the ocean. There wasn’t that much on there and what was there I couldn’t get it to
work. So I then went to NOAA’s website to see what I could find there. I know that they use
maps extensively for their research so I knew I would find something.
On NOAA’s website I came across the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)
https://eds.ioos.us/ . Using this map I can view all sorts of data sets concerning the ocean. Being
inspired by Chris Drury’s work “Antarctic Winds, 27 & 28 January 2007”, I chose to select
Global Currents.

I experimented around with the different data sets on the IOOS site and really enjoyed the
vibrance and movement of the Global Water Tempature. I decided I wanted to incorporate that
some how to add color and interest to the piece. I was inspired by Mary Edna Fraser’s use of
color in the works “Maine Coastline” and “Louisiana’s Disappearing Chains.” I was also
inspired by the use of colors in Elin O’Hara Slavick’s works “We Are Our Own Enemy:First
Atomic Explosion, Alamogordo, New Mexico, USA, 1945” and “Philadelphia: The Firebombing
of M.O.V.E, USA, 1985.” And I really enjoyed Frank Bowling’s work “Marcia H Travels” and
the fluidity of the colors.
 I really wanted to over lap the two data sets but for some reason the website wouldn’t let
me. So I moved on with my research and left that to figure out later. In the IOOS website I also
found an Animal Telemetry Network map which lets you see all the marine animals they are
tracking (http://oceanview.pfeg.noaa.gov/ATN/). I chose to show tagged animals from the past
180 days.
 I was inspired by Kim Baranowski’s use of plot points in her work “Nystrom US 1SR1
(Reported sites of alien abduction and unexplained missing time).” I like how she overlaid the
points on a real classroom map. I went into Photoshop and overlaid the animal map onto the
currents map and the water tempature map.
 I placed the maps together to get a good look at them and think about how I’m going to
bring the two together.

I went back to the IOOS website to play with the data sets and this time it let me merge
them together. So now I had both currents and temperature on the same map. I loved the way it
looked. The bright colors of the ocean contrasting with the neutral colors of the land. I loved the
texture and movement that the temperature data set gives the piece and how the lines of the
currents data set also gives interest and texture to the piece.
I then overlaid the animal data set.

Then through general research for ocean pollution maps I found LITTERBASE
(http://litterbase.awi.de/). A mapping system documenting litter in the ocean. There are two
different maps on the site; litter distribution and biological impacts. I plan on using the biological

impacts map to show documented events where animals came into contact with ocean pollution.
I overlaid the biological impact map over the other map that I have already created. This
image makes the viewer wonder if the data from LITTERBASE could be including the animals
that NOAA is tracking because they are intersecting in some areas.

I have also been inspired by Paula Scher’s work “Israel” and how she added text over the
image. I think I want to do something like that with information about ocean pollution. I have
thought about printing my map out on a thick paper and then write on top of it with pen or
permanent marker.