With all that happens on land, it’s easy to forget that Earth is a water planet. Water makes up more than 70% of Earth’s surface, with our oceans accounting for nearly all of that. Understanding how our oceans are faring, and our impact on them, is critical to ensuring a sustainable future.
This interactive atlas from Esri explores eight different dimensions of Earth’s oceans and our impacts on them. From natural phenomena to human activities like fishing and shipping, these maps provide an overview of our oceans and our relationship to them. Here are a few notable ones.
Ocean Currents and Sea Surface Temperature
This mesmerizing map uses data from NOAA to show the speed and directionality of ocean currents. Currents in orange colors are warmer and generally move faster. You can clearly see the Gulf Stream that moves warmer water from the Gulf of Mexico up the eastern coast of the United States. You can also see how currents drive storm development across the Atlantic, as well as those that make up the gyre around the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Global Shipping Routes
This map shows aggregated ship locations over time from the World Bank. Global shipping lanes are shown in blue and white, and areas in white indicate more intensity. The map crackles with activity around the coasts, particularly in Europe and Asia. You can also detect key routes for global commerce, like those that pass through the Cape of Good Hope off the coast of South Africa.
Coastal Development
Oceans drive commerce and provide food, so it’s not surprising that humans have built cities near them. But these communities can be susceptible to storms or long-term impacts from climate change. Using data from the United Nations Department of Social and Economic Affairs, this map shows global cities within 100 km of the coast. You can also toggle on a view of each country’s population that lives within low-elevation coastal zones. Island nations like Palau and Grand Cayman have higher shares of their population in such areas. These countries are threatened by sea level rise and are working with the United Nations to build support for climate resilience.
More to Explore
- Take a deep dive into a related interactive, narrative map about human impacts on the oceans.
- Go on a tour of the five deepest points in Earth’s oceans.
- See where ocean temperatures spiked in 2023.
