Mapping Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill- From the water up
Jun 4, 2010 @ 4:48 PM by Britta Ricker -- google earth imagery map visualizationHere are some links to mapping initiatives taking place to monitor the disastrous Gulf Oil Spill.
This mashup by Paul Rademacher portrays the size of the spill in relation to major cities. The map aims to give the reader a sense of the scale of this disaster (you will need the Google Earth browser plug-in).
Grassroots Mapping is covering the mapping of the oil spill. MIT students are using balloons and kites to map the disaster.
BP response maps – Static .pdf files
New York Times has a series of animated maps showing oil dispersion, where oil has made landfall, and links to multimedia coverage of the oil spill.
Also, almost every government agency is addressing the oil spill on their websites.
USGS is using satellite imagery. They also have a series of maps (static made with traditional GIS) showing the coastal washup of oil.
USGS data repository - Hazards Data Distribution System (HDDS). You could use this to make your own mashup!
NASA has the latest images of the oil spill here. They have also stitched together this movie. From a Geovisualization standpoint, this is a very simple animation of only satellite imagery but portrays a very powerful message.
EPA uses Google Earth!
This is by no means an exhaustive list of mapping the oil spill but a start.
Here is a picture of me at the Alligator Bayou about four years ago.
Kumiko and I both did work mapping for FEMA in Louisiana post Hurricane Katrina and Rita back in 2005-2006. I spent about two months in the region and I would return in a heartbeat. The Gulf Coast is absolutely an amazing place full of people who are warm and fun loving hard workers.
The wildlife and ecosystem are extremely unique. If you ever get the chance, you have to check this place out! Holy cow! Actually I see that Alligator Bayou is closed and for sale!!! If you love wetlands and have some cash, buy it and preserve this wonderful place!
Kumiko Yamazaki: kyamazaki@mapkist.com