Company
Date Published
Author
Marena Brinkhurst
Word count
703
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

The Ocean Cleanup is actively addressing the global issue of ocean plastic pollution by focusing on removing existing plastic and preventing further pollution through innovative mapping solutions. Utilizing Mapbox technology, they have developed four interactive maps to enhance public understanding and engagement: a river sources map highlights that 80% of plastic pollution originates from around 1,000 rivers worldwide, allowing for targeted cleanup efforts; a price tag map reveals the $19 billion economic impact of plastic pollution on industries such as fishing, tourism, and government; the Plastic Tracker map demonstrates the journey of a single piece of plastic from its release to its potential ocean destination using a Lagrangian dispersion model; and a citizen science map aggregates data from global contributors to refine cleanup strategies. These efforts are supported by custom map styling and data integration, enabling The Ocean Cleanup to effectively communicate their research and raise awareness.