Chasing the Cool

Drawing from the EPA’s Climate Indicators dataset, this project transforms scientific data into a visual narrative that helps audiences understand how warming waters are driving marine life to migrate northward and deeper in search of cooler habitats.

Nov 5, 2025

INSTRUCTOR

Cora Trout

INSTRUCTOR

Cora Trout

INSTRUCTOR

Cora Trout

Skills

InDesign, Illustrator, Research, Data Analysis

Skills

InDesign, Illustrator, Research, Data Analysis

Skills

InDesign, Illustrator, Research, Data Analysis

Team

Gioia Wang

Team

Gioia Wang

Team

Gioia Wang

Green Fern
Green Fern
Green Fern

Research & Data

Research & Data

Research & Data

Using the Marine Species Distribution dataset from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, I analyzed 157 species across the U.S. coastlines, focusing on three regions: the Northeast, Southeast, and eastern Bering Sea. I visualized two primary metrics:

  • Change in Depth (feet) — species migrating to cooler layers below the surface

  • Change in Latitude (miles) — species moving northward over time

Each spread functions as a chapter in a larger story: introduction → depth change → latitude change → regional focus → call to action.

Using the Marine Species Distribution dataset from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, I analyzed 157 species across the U.S. coastlines, focusing on three regions: the Northeast, Southeast, and eastern Bering Sea. I visualized two primary metrics:

  • Change in Depth (feet) — species migrating to cooler layers below the surface

  • Change in Latitude (miles) — species moving northward over time

Each spread functions as a chapter in a larger story: introduction → depth change → latitude change → regional focus → call to action.

Using the Marine Species Distribution dataset from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, I analyzed 157 species across the U.S. coastlines, focusing on three regions: the Northeast, Southeast, and eastern Bering Sea. I visualized two primary metrics:

  • Change in Depth (feet) — species migrating to cooler layers below the surface

  • Change in Latitude (miles) — species moving northward over time

Each spread functions as a chapter in a larger story: introduction → depth change → latitude change → regional focus → call to action.

The Outcome

The Outcome

The Outcome

Presented as an editorial insert within National Geographic, the three-spread series combines cartographic data graphics with poetic interpretation.

Visualizing these shifts, Chasing the Cool reveals how the ocean’s invisible temperature gradients are physically redrawing the geography of marine life.

Presented as an editorial insert within National Geographic, the three-spread series combines cartographic data graphics with poetic interpretation.

Visualizing these shifts, Chasing the Cool reveals how the ocean’s invisible temperature gradients are physically redrawing the geography of marine life.

Presented as an editorial insert within National Geographic, the three-spread series combines cartographic data graphics with poetic interpretation.

Visualizing these shifts, Chasing the Cool reveals how the ocean’s invisible temperature gradients are physically redrawing the geography of marine life.

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