Infographic Response

Response to an Infographic About Coral Bleaching

by Sahir Shahryar

I found this infographic when looking for infographics related to the carbon cycle. It covers coral bleaching, which occurs when the oceans become more acidic as a result of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The infographic drew my attention immediately with its stark contrast. The grayed-out coral and water really give an idea how bleak a bleached coral reef looks:

The inclusion of clownfish in the ocean scene not only provides a stark color contrast, but may also make a subtle reference to Finding Nemo, a childhood favorite of many young adults today. Although I doubt that the infographic relies on the connection to Nemo to sustain the viewer’s interest, it is a smart visual device to capture the attention of someone who may not be interested otherwise. The use of arrows and bold typography make the infographic easy to follow, and the half-emptied hourglass indicates that “the clock’s ticking” to the viewer. Key figures such as “60%,” “2030,” and “8000 years” are shown in large fonts, making them stand out.

Overall, the infographic evoked feelings of frustration out of me. Seeing the impact that we are having on other life forms when we use fossil fuels makes me upset that there are politicians willing to deliberately look the other way for political gain. I think the author of the infographic wanted viewers to see how fossil fuel usage impacts our environment in more ways than just the obvious.

I think the takeaway from this graphic is that our infographic needs to show the viewer something that they didn’t know about (or hadn’t considered) beforehand. If our infographic can give students a new perspective, then it stands a good chance of convincing them of the benefits of composting — and the need to compost.

Infographic credit: the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Reef comparison image credit: Atoll Volunteers <http://www.atollvolunteers.com/coral-bleaching/>