如果肥料逃离蒙大拿州西南部的一个农场,最终可能会旅行超过3,400英里穿过北达科他州,南达科他州,爱荷华州和密苏里州的溪流和河流,然后沿着密西西比河沿着墨西哥湾沿着密西西比河,在那里可能最终为一个充满藻类的巨型藻类做出贡献盲区。降落在西弗吉尼亚州溪流中的塑料垃圾可能会在同一地点进行类似的漫长旅程(围绕3,000英里)。
Using data from the United States Geological Survey, and with help from the USGS’s water data team, he mapped the flow path of water from every location in the U.S. Though it illustrates the idea that a drop of rain will follow this path, it’s worth noting that some water might evaporate, or end up in a water treatment plant, or go into groundwater, or otherwise not make the whole journey; Learner is now working on another project that tracks how water is pulled out.
当工具几乎沿着溪流和河流飞行时,看着水的路径令人着迷。但这也提醒您,该国一个角落的水道污染不一定只是当地问题。Learner说:“除了有趣的视觉体验外,我真正希望人们从工具中脱颖而出,就是我们的水道的相互联系,以及污染物,农业或用水的含义。”