Interactive Exploration of Coral Bleaching
This interactive visualization delves into the state of Pacific coral reefs using a dataset from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Drawing attention to the Smithsonian’s extensive and meticulously documented coral collection, we showcase images of Pacific coral genera particularly impacted by significant bleaching events. The black-and-white color palette evokes a sense of urgency, symbolizing the potential loss of these stunning ecosystems and inspiring viewers to take action.
Role
Information Designer
Team
This project was done with my classmate Ian Yu as a collaborative continuation of our partnership with the Smithsonian Museum
Skills
Data Visualization
Visual Design
Product Design
Tools
Figma
Adobe Photoshop
HTML / CSS / D3.js
Project Brief & Design Thinking
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Project Brief
This interactive visualization uses Smithsonian images to highlight the changing state of coral bleaching in the Pacific Ocean. Supplemented by NOAA data from five Pacific jurisdictions, the project highlights a new Smithsonian-NOAA partnership to conserve marine biodiversity.
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About the Dataset
The National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) tracks biological, climatic, and socioeconomic indicators to assess the health of U.S. coral reefs and their connected communities. The dataset includes bleaching prevalence which the NCRMP defines as the proportion of bleached corals to the number of all corals, which indicates thermal stress and coral population health.
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Design Thinking
We chose a black-and-white aesthetic to emphasize the fragile beauty of coral reefs and remind us that these images could fade into history if we fail to address our carbon footprint. The interactive slider, allowing users to transition between colored and monochrome images, creates a dramatic visual impact intended to inspire environmental action.
What is Coral Bleaching?
If users are unfamiliar with coral bleaching, we have a page that introduces the topic.
The leading cause of coral bleaching is climate change. A warming planet means a warming ocean, and a change in water temperature—as little as 2 degrees Fahrenheit—can cause coral to drive out algae.
Nutrient imbalances that stress the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) living within the coral make them more vulnerable to environmental stressors.
The Map*
Map is not to scaleThe map artistically clusters images of the most bleached corals, positioned to represent their respective Pacific Ocean jurisdictions. Hover over an image to learn the year of peak bleaching and the genus of the affected coral.
Additionally, hovering over coral images highlights genera shared across regions with frequent bleaching, revealing potential patterns in bleaching occurrences.
Coral Modal Functionality
The row of images displays a progression from the least to the most bleaching recorded in that year.
Similar to the map page, hovering over coral images highlights genera surveyed over the years, which unfortunately highlights the increase in bleaching.
Clicking on an image allows for a deeper exploration of that coral genera. The interactive slider, allowing users to transition between colored and monochrome images, creates a dramatic visual impact intended to inspire environmental action.
There is hope for corals!
Dive into American Samoa, where coral bleaching is on the decline—a promising sign of resilience being studied by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
Intriguingly, American Samoa is part of the NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary system, the largest and most remote sanctuary of its kind. This protected status could be key to the region's progress in reducing coral bleaching.
Thank you to the Smithsonian for housing the largest coral collection in the world!
Efforts like the Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative monitor coral reef health, with improvements in some regions attributed to community and government interventions. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute has pioneered coral cryopreservation, creating repositories containing 1 trillion frozen sperm and 3 billion larval cells from 16 species. Meanwhile, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute explores resilient "super corals" off Panama's coast, offering hope for the future of coral reefs.