Six Feet Under

Six Feet Under

Software: MAPublisher, Illustrator, ArcMap, QGIS
Client: Self-directed

Six Feet Under is an ongoing series that uses NOAA data to create laser-cut maps that visualize a potential worst-case scenario sea-level rise by 2100 should emissions remain unchecked. I aim to utilize the visual language of this medium to elicit feelings of nostalgia and loss and to be alarmist without being unreasonable by depicting change that’s within the realm of possibility in a relatable timeframe. While models and predictions vary widely, I settled on 2 m based on two recent papers from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Nature Communications. I then rounded down to the nearest whole foot: 6’. The light blue represents the inundated coastline while the raw wood represents the projected remaining landmasses.

Using NOAA’s interactive sea level rise viewer, I set the depth to 6 feet and began to explore the coast. I chose cities that felt like a punch in the gut, starting with Boston. I set the scale for each map based on two main criteria: the maps should be useful, showing inundation in relation to individual streets as opposed to just main thoroughfares. Second, I sought to include as much detail as possible. Very small isolated pieces are prone to falling through my crumb tray, getting vaporized, or are simply too difficult to handle. With that in mind, I did have to exclude some areas. I also excluded bridges in most circumstances, and all roads were considered as if they were at ground level.

Charleston presented additional opportunities and challenges. In contrast to Boston’s engineered coastline, much of Charleston is surrounded by marshlands filled with meandering streams and man-made canals. I found it fascinating how the projected inundation follows those streams and decided to include them in that layer.

I developed Honolulu and Key West at the same time and set them at the same scale. They’re a study in contrasts: vastly different geologies, urban planning, and compositions. While downtown Honolulu won’t fare well, the higher elevation of the volcanic terrain could help preserve some of the city. Meanwhile, Key West all but disappears. The inundation in both pieces was fairly contiguous with few remaining “islands”, making the overall appearance much simpler than Boston and Charleston.

I almost excluded Key West as I felt it was “too obvious” of a candidate for the series and because there was so little dry land left. Eventually, I decided that’s exactly why I should include it. Writing off the destruction of coastal cities as inevitable doesn’t make the loss less devastating for the people who live and work in those areas.