In working on an issue of Chesapeake Quarterly focused on the science of microplastics in the Chesapeake Bay, there were several elements that needed a great deal of research. We wanted to create a comprehensive timeline on the history of plastics — a resource that we could not find online — as well as a clear infographic to show how plastics can break down in aquatic/marine environments. The resulting pieces are below.
We were short on space for the timeline in the print version of the magazine, as it had to fit in a two-page spread. However, we had more options online, so we expanded the piece into an image-rich ArcGIS Story Map, which made it engaging to explore as well as easy to share!