Oil Spill ESI Maps

Name: _________________________________       Date: _____________

To prepare for and respond to oil spills, NOAA uses ESI (Environmental Sensitivity Index) maps. These maps describe habitats, animals, plants, and recreational or commercial activities along a particular coast. They help determine exactly how an oil spill threatens the coast. In this activity, you'll find out more about these maps.

1. Here's a sample ESI map. What types of information are shown on the map?
2. Compare the pictures of the front and back of the map. Describe what is shown on each side.
3. Look at this list of shoreline types. List three types of shorelines that are very vulnerable to oil spills.
4. Click the links to the photographs of the three shorelines you chose to answer question 3. Hypothesize why they are so vulnerable.
5. Return to the link for question 3. Find three other shoreline types that are less vulnerable to oil spills. Hypothesize why they are that way.
6. Find out how oil spills affect biological resources. List five situations that put animals and their habitat at high risk to oil spills.
7. Oil spills also affect resources used by humans. List the four types of resources shown on ESI maps.
8. Take a closer look at ESI map design. What types of information are shown by the colors and icons on the maps?