Category: Ocean

The issue of value of life whether on dry land or in water is unquestionable. Life is precious and should be cared for at whatever cost because no one can give life, therefore, no one should take it. The debate on ocean dumping still rages.

Critics and adherents alike have valid points concerning ocean dumping; nevertheless, this issue calls for serious investigations to separate facts from propaganda. Regrettably, oceans bear an almost unavoidable exposure to waste materials due to its expansive and open nature. This forms the basis of argument for those who support the issue. However, the long-term repercussions of such a shortsighted argument are far-reaching.

For instance, oceans support the lives of a vast number of species, majority of which provide food for other species and human beings alike. Moreover, virtually all industries rely on ocean waters for their continued running coupled with provision of the cheapest and safest mode of transport, with people exporting and/or importing tons of goods via the water transport.

If ocean dumping continues then, there would be massive obstruction of numerous activities that take place in the oceans. Therefore, based on these negative effects, ocean dumping is wrong and stern measures against the practice need to be established.

Changes are ever happening, either for the better or for the worse. Policies addressing the issue of ocean dumping and the need to curb it have been in place. In fact, the establishment of strategies as ocean protection, came into place in 1970s.

Brewer and Peter (1983) posit that, The first concerted effort to control ocean dumping began in the early 1970s, when many environmental protection laws were passed (p. 45). However, the period thereafter was marked by a change of these laws. This change, to a greater extend, loosened the prevailing policies thus allowing ocean dumping.

Several factors fueled the change; for instance, change in the information concerning the effect of ocean dumping to the ocean environment. Statisticians claimed that the effect was insignificant and for some countries like America, ocean dumping became a routine. Nevertheless, one would wonder what fueled the nullification of some policies.

Policy change marks the beginning of its termination. Most of the changes render the policies useless, hence terminating their applications. These terminations vary in terms of policy redirections, program adjustments, and fiscal retrenchments among other factors.

These terminations play a vital role in the study of policies for they remove obsolete policies, giving a room for the establishment of new others. However, the establishment of new policies to replace the existing ones does not always pave way fro better conditions. People have devised reasons as to why termination of a policy can pass as the only solution to a given problem.

For instance, Stewart, Hedge, and Lester (2008) assert, Political considerations, rather than evaluative elegance, are at the root of most termination decisions (p. 158). In most cases, politics do not seek solve a problem amicably; politicians pursue personal ends and this cripples any attempt to offer a lasting solution. Economic crises also play a major part when making termination decisions.

In conclusion, policy-making stands out as an unavoidable practice. Though applied virtually everywhere, a lot of attention ought to be availed when changing or terminating policies. Policy review and amendments has given way to some policies that favor the dumping of wastes into the ocean. Following the already realized effects on the aquatic life as well as some other predicted long-term water transport problems caused by this malpractice, it suffices to infer that ocean dumping is wrong.

Reference List

Brewer, G., & Peter D. (1983). The Foundations of Policy Analysis. Homewood: Dorsey Press.

Stewart, J., Hedge, D., & Lester, J. (2008). Public Policy: An Evolutionary Approach (3^rd ed.). United States: Thomson Wadsworth.

Blue Gold: World Water Wars: Video Summary

It is apparent that future wars will be mainly fought as a result of the struggle for water resources. As it stands now, politics has engulfed the water debate to an extent that crucial legislations cannot be readily passed by lawmakers in order to protect this scarce commodity. As a matter of fact, the global marketplace is heavily relying on water for sustainable development. There is an increasing desire by corrupt governments, private investors and corporate giants to control the declining supply of water. This explains why citizens across the globe have mounted public protests coupled with lawsuits so as to regain control of this precious commodity. It is also interesting to mention that poor management of water led to the collapse of past civilizations. The same scenario can still repeat itself in the contemporary world if effective water management is not practiced.

In regards to the changing and dwindling water resources, it is prudent to underscore the fact that climate change is largely to blame for this growing challenge. Destructive human activities through the emission of greenhouse gases have altered atmospheric composition. As a result, the global temperatures are above the natural average thereby causing serious weather and climatic patterns on the surface of the earth. One of the key resources that have been grossly impacted by climate change is water. Needless to say, it calls for concerted effort by both citizens and relevant government authorities as well as the international community to bring water resource management back to order.

Ancient societies cherished water and modeled their lives around it. They even worshipped water as a god. In other words, a lot of value was attached to water resources.

Change in climate has significantly modified water resources. The ancient Mayan society was equally affected by the dwindling water resources. Human activities have vastly polluted water resources as witnessed in Mexico City. Industrial effluents and sewerage systems from domestic wastes are channeled into rivers and other water bodies. This leads to loss of oxygen in rivers. As a result, aquatic life has been exposed to gross danger.

Pollution of water systems especially in Africa and other third world countries has led to high rates of morbidity and mortality. Cholera, malaria, and typhoid are common in regions affected by water pollution. The film also points out that water is categorized as an economic good by the United Nations. It has an inherent economic value more than minerals. In the case of Mexico, it appears that the past regimes have never put a lot of focus on the utilization of water resources. A company like Coca Cola received the largest water concessions from the Mexican government. However, the negative economic impacts of harvesting large volumes of water are yet to be addressed by the authorities.

Coca Cola ruled Mexico for a long time by being the largest user of water. Protests over water resources have been witnessed in the past. Even some of the well established economies such as the United States of America are running out of water. As it stands now, it is highly likely that water resources that form boundaries between countries might be a major source of conflict as individual nations strive to secure a larger share of the resource. The latter has already been witnessed across the board in both the developed and developing economies. Bolivia was once affected by water related protests that led to loss of billions of dollars.

Fertilizing the Ocean with Iron: Article Summary

From the article Fertilizing the Ocean with Iron, there are suggestions that iron is capable of minimizing the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This proposal was first made by John Martin. According to Martin, Plankton bloom can be triggered when iron dust is sprinkled on sea waters. The available atmospheric carbon dioxide that traps heat on the surface of the earth is then be absorbed by the millions of cells generated from the process.

When Martins was making the above remarks, there was already sufficient evidence that iron is capable of absorbing carbon dioxide. There was water-tight empirical evidence from laboratories which demonstrated the effect of iron fertilization on atmospheric composition of carbon dioxide. The cells generated can trap carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Recent discoveries on the same subject matter have not refuted the earlier findings. However, the efficacy of this procedure to eliminate carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is still in doubt. Iron fertilization can indeed trap this greenhouse gas although the efficiency level may not be as initially indicated by earlier research studies.

Owing to the growing concern over the threats of global warming and climate change, lawyers, environmentalists, economists, investors and policy makers are gradually considering the possibility of implementing Martins ideology. There are myriads of companies that have demonstrated willingness to advance the course of this empirical study in order to establish or come up with conclusive findings that can be put into practical use. Nonetheless, the whole picture seems to be complicated due to the absence of clear legal guidelines to conduct such an empirical study. This does not rule out the fact that the key global players should route for measures that can eliminate emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Sea Turtle Tastes Like Veal: Article Summary

Ronald Bailey observes that sea turtle has a long history in Cayman Island. The farm that takes care of the turtles was established way back in 1968 by entrepreneurs from the United Kingdom. However, the history of sea turtles in this island is as old as humanity bearing in mind that they have been in existence for several centuries. According to the author, overharvesting led to a massive drop in the population of sea turtles at Cayman Island.

However, private turtle farms partially assisted to minimize the challenge posed by overharvesting. From the article, it is evident that pressure groups drawn from environmentalists have never been at ease with the idea of selling farmed sea turtles because it may equally leas to the drop in their population from the natural catchments. At this point, it is not clear whether natural harvesting of sea turtles can indeed lead to the drop in their population because environmentalists hold a contrary view. Regardless of the method used to breed and harvest sea turtles, due care should be taken in order to avoid overharvesting.

Are Sea Turtles Worth Saving? Article Summary

The article from the www.bonaireturtles.org website also explores the desire to conserve sea turtles because they fall among the endangered species in this century. Their ecological importance calls for every reason to conserve this rare sea animal. It is interesting to note that both marine ecosystems and beaches host the sea turtles. This implies that the two ecosystems can become delicate if the species goes into extinction. Besides, human beings who obviously rely on the two ecosystems would be equally affected. The article discusses a number of reasons why the sea turtles should be conserved or protected. They are keystone species, attract tourists, and prevent large growth of jellyfish. These are indeed enough reasons for protecting this rare species.

The Cove Documentary Summary

This film was produced in 2009 to inquire the welfare of dolphins in Japan. It featured as the Best Documentary one year later. By far and large, the film agitates for the need to protect dolphin population in Japan following mass killing of this aquatic species. The declining number of dolphins in Japan has been attributed to fishing malpractices. Hence, the film emphasizes the need for immediate change in fishing styles.

The public is also being educated in order to comprehend the risks of unhealthy fishing practices that may eventually culminate into the extinction of dolphins. The dolphin meat is also at a higher risk of being poisoned due to the infiltration of mercury into water bodies. Negative human impact on the environment has remarkably jeopardized the ecosystem. The film openly blames environmental pollution on the increasing mass deaths of dolphins. An ocean conservationists perspective has been used to tell the story of the endangered Japanese dolphins.

The Taiji dolphin drive hunting has led to the killing of a large number of dolphins compared to those that lose their lives in the Antarctic region. The Japanese Whaling industry is also to blame for the mass killing of dolphins in this country. The cove is used to herd the migrating dolphins. Thereafter, knives and spears are used to kill the dolphins once they are inside the nets. The documentary movie concludes that the fishing method being used to net dolphins in Japan is irrelevant and brutal.

The International Whaling Commission might allow commercial whaling specifically in Japan after the latter garnered requisite votes to go ahead with large scale whaling activities.

Overview of the Problem

The concept of common ownership applies to natural resources to which there is unlimited access. Most of the environmental resources in the world are unprotected; thus, access to them is unrestricted. The common ownership problem relates to the pollution and unsustainable use or overexploitation of a common access resource. Sustainability demands that the use of a resource does not jeopardize its ability to cater for the needs of future generations (Enger & Smith, 2016). If the use of a resource is unrestricted, then its acquisition is free, i.e., it requires no economic or social cost to acquire it.

In essence, the common-ownership nature of most natural resources creates the tragedy of common access that results in resource overexploitation and pollution (Enger & Smith, 2016, p. 116). The underlying argument is that without property rights to control access or consumption, individuals will often overexploit resources because there are no market incentives to use them sustainably. Further, the common-ownership nature of resources accounts for extinctions and endangered species. From an economic perspective, the person exploiting a common property resource is not obligated to pay anyone for the harvest. Thus, the individual would not consider the opportunity cost to the community that results from dwindling stocks or pollution.

Common Ownership of Oceans

Established demarcations separate the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) from the unclaimed waters that are considered global commons. An EEZ is a 200-mile coastal water area within the continental shelf that is under a nations jurisdiction (Pyc, 2016). The common seas form an interconnected ecological system with the EEZs, making them a common ownership resource. Oceanic ecosystems play a critical part in the balance of life. The interlinked aspects of climate, fauna, and flora, and economic systems  shipping, fishing, and energy resources  depending on the high seas and waters within the EEZs. Further, the effects of economic growth, e.g., pollution, are not restricted to a particular EEZ, as they can move freely through the ocean currents to affect distant locations. This fundamental unity of oceans means that the world waters impact on all of us.

While the international waters are the true commons, the ocean waters within national jurisdictions are global because the fish and pollution effects are not limited to these boundaries. Therefore, the sustainable use of the ocean commons would need concerted efforts. Terrestrial activities have an effect on the oceans. Industrial and agricultural activities in inland regions affect ocean waters indirectly through rivers, while activities in coastal marshes have a direct impact on offshore waters. Thus, the effects of terrestrial activities reach the offshore waters and are spread to international waters by ocean currents.

Problems or Threats of Common Ownership to Oceans

Presently, oceanic resources face a threat from overexploitation of marine resources and pollution. Overexploitation arises when people overcapitalize and overexploit commonly owned marine resources due to economic/market incentives. The rationale for continued overfishing in the high seas relates to economic rationality. According to Greiber et al. (2014), having an open access policy for the high seas promotes overexploitation because there is no assurance that the fish stocks will last for long. As a result, it is only rational to fish more often and use commercial vessels to out-fish competitors in waters outside the continental shelves. This action coupled with the limited nature of fish stocks results in overexploitation. While open access fishing is meant to promote fairness, it attracts many overcapitalized trawlers that threaten the existence of the fish stocks. Consequently, some fish species have been fished to extinction, while others are endangered.

Pollution is another threat to oceans resulting from common ownership. Pollution effects are serious in offshore waters and lagoons located in the EEZs. Coastal areas are home to the worlds major cities, industries, and recreational establishments that produce tones of waste that end up in coastal waters. Land-based human activities, including river diversion for domestic use and agriculture, contribute to pollution in the oceans through estuarine river systems (Pyc, 2016). These activities coupled with dredging along the shoreline have affected estuarine habitats and vulnerable ecosystems in high seas. Pollution also arises from municipal sewage, sediments, and Agrochemicals that reach estuarine river systems through runoffs. Heavy metal accumulation, oil spills from tankers, and nuclear wastes from various tests pose a serious threat to the marine ecosystem. These pollutants kill phytoplankton life, affecting the marine food chain and ecosystems.

Ocean Governance

The fragmented nature of ocean governance coupled with competing for national interests poses a threat to the health and survival of marine ecosystems. A special U.N. committee originating in the UNEP would be well-positioned to administer the exploitation of high seas through legally binding measures. Its mandate would include protecting undersea biodiversity from overexploitation, pollution, and deep-sea oil exploration as enshrined in the Law of the Sea. The committee would take up the roles performed by existing regional councils to foster consistency in ocean governance for mutual benefits.

By bringing together all governments, the committee would serve as a custodian of the public trust. The protection of the use of trust resources entails the effective management of ecosystems and limiting public access to threatened areas. According to Pyc (2016), sustainable exploitation of marine resources for economic incentives should consider public trust values, traditional values, and customs of the nations in proximity to these areas (p. 160). Further, the common property nature of oceans calls for more cohesive management of EEZs and ocean resources. Extending the public trust doctrine to cover coastal waters would strengthen the committees stewardship of ocean resources through the enforcement of programs to control pollution and coastal activities. The public trust doctrine would need to be codified in statutory law to allow its application by the courts.

Types of Regulations or Restrictions

Regulations that address the problems of overexploitation and pollution are required to preserve marine life. Regulations that create more marine protected areas on the high seas would help tackle the problems associated with common ownership. The legal framework for the inclusion of marine protected areas should be universally acceptable and fair. These areas should be ocean ecosystems with endangered species or scientific/cultural value. The creation of marine protected areas would lead to the sustainable use of biodiversity beyond the territorial scope of nations.

In addition, regulations that limit or prohibit the catch levels of endangered species are required. The restrictive measures would include protecting low fish stocks from commercial fishing. An example relates to decisions by the International Whaling Commission to restrict or prohibit whaling in high seas. Thus, legally binding anti-whaling regulations could control certain stocks from overexploitation, except for scientific purposes. The restrictions would help achieve sufficient populations of endangered marine species. The dumping of radioactive waste and pollution due to land-based activities affect the health of marine resources. Therefore, a moratorium resolution to restrict the disposal of wastes into the oceans would also be necessary.

Fair Use

The fair use of marine resources located outside the national jurisdictions requires a collaborative approach. Collaborative efforts based on marine spatial planning (MSP) have been applied in designating protected marine areas in the oceans. I would use the MSP tool to develop integrated measures for allocating marine resources to governments. In this respect, developed countries with the capacity to exploit the common heritage could use it sustainably and share the rewards with nations that lack this capacity. Further, even landlocked nations would receive a share of the marine resources because it is a common heritage of humanity.

Another strategy would involve limiting the extent of the EEZs. The main reason for expanding the EEZs is due to the depletion of marine resources in the coastal waters. The earlier conventions that restricted resource exploitation in the main fisheries have largely failed because of the issue of fair allocation. Therefore, limiting open access to these areas through centralized management would ensure that the resources are allocated fairly to all nations. The resources would be shared across time and space.

Further, commercial fishing restrictions could help prevent the unsustainable use of marine resources. Fairness in the exploitation of commonly owned resources entails requires sustainable practices to avoid jeopardizing the capacity of the resources to meet the needs of the coming generations. In this regard, efforts would be directed towards the protection of marine habitats from pollution and support the cultural uses of resources through collaborative processes that benefit the current and future generations.

References

Enger, E., & Smith, B. (2016). Environmental science: A study of interrelationships. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.

Greiber, T., Gjerde, K., Currie, D., Druel, E., Durussel, C., Scovazzi, T., & Warner, R. (2014). An International Instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction: Exploring different elements to consider. Cambridge, UK: IUCN Environmental Law Center.

Pyc, D. (2016). Global ocean governance. International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, 10(1), 159-162.

Among various natural disasters, tsunamis deserve particular attention for the combination of their destructive character and opportunities to prevent human losses. An event that entirely transformed standard scientific approaches to this phenomenon was the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2014), it all started with a 9.1 magnitude earthquake near Sumatra, Indonesia. Although not resulting in significant destruction, it ruptured a 900-mile stretch along with the Indian and Australian plates, forcing massive ocean floor segments over thirty meters upward (Roos, 2020, para. 9). Combined with the ten-minute duration, such a quake caused a tremendous tsunami rushing across the Indian Ocean. It affected the entire region, with the heaviest losses in nearby Indonesia and several deaths occurring even in South Africa, five thousand miles from the epicenter (Roos, 2020). Therefore, this tsunami became a global disaster affecting millions of people and requiring a thorough review and identification of future preventive and mitigation measures.

The statistical data published by international researchers demonstrate the tremendous effects of this natural disaster. With 227,898 people dead or missing, it caused the highest number of tsunami victims throughout recorded history (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2014). The worst effects of the great wave were observed in Indonesia, where the death toll exceeded 160,000 people, and the overall damages almost reached $4.5 billion (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2014). The remaining fatalities were found all along the Indian Ocean coast, with the largest numbers in Sri Lanka and India. The total material losses were estimated to reach $10 billion (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2014). Entire communities were wiped off the map, thousands of houses and large infrastructural objects were destroyed. Moreover, ruined coastal facilities resulted in a significant impact on tourism, which constituted the primary income source for many states. Thus, this tsunami became the deadliest and most destructive natural disaster in the region for years.

The latest strategies aimed at mitigating tsunamis are vast; however, their implementation is complex and does not always guarantee the complete prevention of the disasters impact. The first strategy is concerned with the vertical evacuation of the population to the excising natural high ground or tsunami-resistant structures or special-purpose structures. The second strategy is the construction of structures that are higher than the expected height of tsunami inundation (Goltz & Yamori, 2020). The third strategy is concerned with excellent preparedness of the cities in communities, such as the adoption of building codes to address tsunamis, the moving of essential community assets and vulnerable individuals out of tsunami hazard zones, as well as planning for post-tsunami recovery. It is suggested to implement a global educational program, allowing people to identify the early signs of an incoming disaster, which be viewed as a measure to prevent human losses.

Nevertheless, despite all technological advancements, the generation and distribution of warnings still take time, and nearby areas can be affected in minutes. Therefore, straightforward advice to anyone in the coastal zone, feeling the ground shaking or seeing the water inexplicably receding, would be to rush to an elevated place and stay there until the wave passes. Because not all current prevention and mitigation efforts are fully effective, further research and development efforts are needed to address the challenge of the adverse impact of tsunamis on the global population.

References

Goltz, J., & Yamori, K. (2020). Tsunami preparedness and mitigation strategies. Natural Hazard Science. Web.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2014). December 26, 2004, Sumatra, Indonesia earthquake and tsunami  Tenth anniversary update. Web.

Roos, D. (2020). The 2004 tsunami wiped away towns with mind-boggling destruction. History. Web.

There are various speculations about the possibility of a significant natural disaster that can take place in California in the near future. In particular, it is often assumed that this state may eventually fall into the ocean due to the influence of some forces. One should keep in mind that in the course of the last two centuries, this region has been affected by many earthquakes that took thousands of lives. Much attention should be paid to San Adreas Fault System Fault System that runs across this territory (Lutgens and Tarbuck 194).

This line extends by more than 800 miles (Lutgens and Tarbuck 194). One should bear in mind that in the past there were cases when a certain territory could fall below the water level. For example, a certain part of Create submerged under the sea (Stein 38). Nevertheless, one cannot compare this natural phenomenon to the hypothetical disaster during which California can actually fall under the water (Stein 38). They have never been recorded in the course of geological history Moreover, the plates that form San Andreas Fault System are not moving away from one another.

Instead, they slide past one another (Stein 38). This is one of the differences that should be taken into account. On the whole, it is possible that after millions of years, San Francisco and Los Angeles will neighbor with one another due to the movement of these plates. These are some of the predictions that modern scientists make.

Apart from that, San Andreas Fault can be viewed as an example of the so-called transform plate boundary (Lutgens and Tarbuck 224). In this case, one can speak about North American and Pacific plates (Stein 38). Nevertheless, these plates are not moving in opposite directions (Lutgens and Tarbuck 194). Therefore, there are no scientific explanations that show how California can sink into the ocean. This is one of the points that can be made.

Additionally, it is necessary to keep in mind that plates travel at an extremely slow rate, and there are no forces that can make them tear apart from one another. This argument is not considered by people who believe that California can fall into the ocean. This is another limitation of this theory. One should note that these speculation are mostly the result of science-fiction films depicting massive disasters such as earthquakes or volcano eruptions.

The main problem is that such films are predominantly aimed at producing a strong impression on the viewers. Nevertheless, they are not based on accurate scientific knowledge. Such cinematographic works can give rise to various myths, including the idea that California can fall into the ocean. However, they are not suitable for the discussion of tectonic processes. These are some of the main issues that should be kept in mind.

On the whole, these examples show that the lack of knowledge about various tectonic processes can lead people about various misconceptions. The belief that California can sink into the ocean is mostly based on inaccurate interpretation of tectonic processes. Indeed, with time passing, tectonic processes can change the landscape of California. Nevertheless, these changes have nothing to do with the myths that popular culture propagates. Moreover, this assumption is derived primarily from popular culture, rather than science. These are the main arguments that can be put forward.

Works Cited

Lutgens, Frederick, and Edward Tarbuck. Foundations of Earth Science, New York: Prentice Hall, 2014. Print.

Stein, Matthew. When Technology Fails: A Manual for Self-Reliance, Sustainability, and Surviving the Long Emergency, London: Chelsea Green Publishing, 2008. Print.

An ocean gyre can be defined as a system of ocean currents, which exist in a constant rotating movement. As far as the cause of the ocean gyre is concerned, wind movements are traditionally mentioned as the key factors causing the phenomenon (Lutgens and Tarbuck 312).

Though the phenomenon of the Coriolis Effect can be related to a variety of phenomena, it is often mentioned in relation to the movement of the ocean and the wind currents. Caught in a rotating reference frame, the movements of air in water are constrained by those in the atmosphere, and vice versa (Lutgens and Tarbuck 317).

Judging by the geographic location of Great Britain, its average temperature should be a few degrees lower than it usually is; the increase in temperature can be explained by the warm ocean currents, which surround the island. The effects of the North Atlantic Drift have an especially tremendous effect on the UK climate (Lutgens and Tarbuck 322).

The conveyor belt movement of the ocean waves, also known as the thermohaline circulation (Lutgens and Tarbuck 325), is created as a result of the difference in the density of water masses in the ocean. Because of the gap in temperature and pressure rates between the lower and the higher water layers, a circulative motion known as the Global Conveyor Belt (Lutgens and Tarbuck 325) is created.

Though the phenomenon of beach drift is not related directly to the processes that take place in the ocean, it can be viewed as one of the effects of these processes. Due to the unceasing movement of the ocean currents and the creation of waves, the specks of sand along the beach are pulled sideways. Referred to as the beach drift, this phenomenon can be observed on a regular basis (Longshore Drift para. 1).

Another type of natural rock formation, along with the arches created on the surface, sea arches are natural openings, which emerge on cliffs. A sea stack, in its turn, is a landform shaped as a column; usually found on the dry land, a stack may also be located in the ocean; in the latter case, it is called a sea stack. Both sea stacks and sea arches are formed in the course of major marine processes, such as the attacks of waves on the rock formations in the ocean.

According to Lutgens and Tarbuck, a beach drift is a coastal landform that is located parallel to the coast of the continent. It is quite remarkable that, due to the of the islands shape, their origin was a mystery for researchers for quite long. Beach drifts are important for sailors, since beach drifts help avoid the shoals that are also located quite close to the mainland (Lutgens and Tarbuck 331).

Beach erosion can be prevented with the help of artificial headlands, sea walls and vegetation. The former, being rock formations, are practically invincible and, therefore, trustworthy; the latter can be carried out with the help of the trees with long and thick roots. Sea walls, in their turn, are less efficient, yet they can be used as a temporary way to address the issue (Lutgens and Tarbuck 331).

Both the Sun and the Moon have a tangible effect on tides. The Moon has a powerful gravitational field, which triggers tides; Sun, in its turn, also uses its gravitation to trigger tides; however, due to a huge distance between the Sun and the earth, the effect of the Sun is smaller than the one of the Moon.

Several types of tides are traditionally identified. Spring tides, for instance, can be observed once the three celestial bodies are aligned. Neap tides take place when the three celestial bodies make a right (90°) angle (Lutgens and Tarbuck 337).

Works Cited

Longshore Drift. n. d.

Lutgens, Frederick K. and Edward J.Tarbuck. Oceans: The Last Frontier. Foundations of Earth Science. 7th Edition. Prentice Hall. 2014. 311338. Print.

Introduction

Since the dawn of time, there have been people living on the planet, and water has always been essential in sustaining all living things. For many decades, people have been concerned about the state of the ocean and its pollution. Ocean pollution has resulted in the extinction of aquatic life and, by extension, has harmed humanity. Human activities are widely recognized as a significant contributor to the problem of ocean pollution.

Ocean Pollution Due to Human Activities

Humans should take the initiative to protect the available water supplies to preserve the survival of all living things in the cosmos. People know the importance of water conservation but still engage in activities that lead to the pollution of watersheds. Daily activities carried out by humans and animals, as well as natural occurrences, such as those that occur below volcanic eruptions, are some of the factors that contribute to the contamination of water bodies.

The use of herbicides and pesticides while farming has contributed to ocean pollution. These substances are examples of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that can be detected in the water. The substances, as their names imply, take an exceptionally long time to break down and have the potential to work their way up the taxonomic levels of aquatic life. Chemicals such as mercury and cadmium are examples of toxic metal pollution. Cai and colleagues (2021) argue that the compounds can enter the ocean either by direct dumping or upstream sources such as mining and trash dumping. They identified in their study that mercury concentrations in the Pacific Ocean have risen by thirty percent over the past two decades as a direct result of an increase in the number of power plants that burn coal and other industrial activity. Over 90 percent of mercury exposure results from consuming contaminated fish and shellfish, one of the numerous compounds that can be detrimental to human health.

Pollution caused by humans is currently the principal factor leading to the acidity of the seas in the modern world. Marine life is suffering significantly as a direct result of this pollution. According to a study by Hoegh-Guldberg, (2019), coral reefs structure and functioning are harmed when there is a rise in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere owing to the emission of harmful industrial compounds into the environment. Coral reefs are often found in a range of diverse habitats. They supply other species that dwell in water with food and a place to reside. Coral reefs become more prone to harm from elevated calcium levels as a result of acidifications calcification process. It will drastically affect the functionality and structure of these aquatic animals. As a result of the impact of irresponsible human actions, the oceans surface water typically absorbs around 25 percent of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere annually (Cai et al., 2021). This gas will push the pH level of the ocean water down, which will have detrimental consequences on the carbon chemistry of the water.

The oceans light pollution problem is exacerbated by the presence of various sources, including coastal communities, offshore mining platforms, and fishing vessels that operate at night. Animals of the sea, such as turtles, affected by artificial lights, such as those used in aquariums, run the risk of being disoriented due to the lights (Falcón et al., 2020). Hatchlings are susceptible to being consumed by predators due to the consequences of light pollution, which include becoming disoriented and taking longer to find water. It leaves them vulnerable to being eaten.

Plastic pollution is one of the most pervasive forms of pollution that can be found in the oceans at present. The proliferation of businesses that wrap their wares in plastic contributes to the problem of plastic pollution (Nguyen et al., 2018). The same may be said of oil and chemical firms like Exxon, Shell, and Dow that produce plastics for commercial use. People who buy products packaged in plastic containers often improperly dispose of the plastic, introducing it into aquatic environments such as the ocean. Plastic pollution has reached such a massive extent that it is now considered a pandemic. According to a report published by the World Wildlife Fund, an incredible quantity of plastic is polluting the oceans and other ecosystems worldwide. Around 500 billion plastic bags are used yearly, and the equivalent of one full garbage truckloads worth of plastic is tossed into the ocean every minute. The presence of plastics in the water has a devastating effect on marine species, particularly whales (Ahamed et al., 2021). For instance, when a sperm whale died in 2019, it was discovered that he had consumed 220 pounds of garbage during his lifetime.

As a result of the fact that the majority of people on earth get their supply of protein food from the ocean, it is of the utmost importance to prevent the ocean from becoming contaminated. Human health can benefit from the proteins extracted from fish, which are suitable for human health overall (Nguyen et al., 2018). The same contaminants present in an environment that is contaminated will be transferred to humans through the consumption of contaminated fish, which in turn leads to unhealthy lifestyles.

The ocean primarily controls our weather. It acts as a heat sink, carrying warm water from the equator to the poles and cold water from the poles to the tropics as it travels between the two regions (Allen et al., 2020). Without these currents, the climate in some areas would be pretty severe, and there would be fewer locations on the planet where people could live. It controls the amount of rainfall as well as droughts. The oceans, which contain 97 percent of the water on our planet, are the primary source of practically all the precipitation that falls on land (Nguyen et al., 2018). The ocean takes the carbon dioxide, which helps maintain the stability of the carbon cycle and, as a result, the earths temperatures. It is comparable to the system we use to regulate the climate on a global scale. Therefore, when the ocean becomes polluted, the entire ecosystem will also become polluted due to the circulation of the currents.

Despite the human activities that lead to ocean pollution, it is not too late to engage in strategies that would help conserve the ocean. Since oceans play a crucial part in the ecosystem, it is of the utmost importance to develop strategies that will aid in preserving the sea and the organisms that live in it. Protecting the ocean should be a priority for humankind, and one way to do this is to be conscientious about how waste products are disposed of. The correct way to dispose of non-biodegradable materials is to collect them and transport them to locations where they can be disposed of in a less hazardous manner (Ahamed et al., 2021). Companies that engage in manufacturing and processing are responsible for treating emissions and ensuring that they are released into the atmosphere in a less detrimental form.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is essential to protect the ocean because anything that human beings throw into the ocean will eventually make its way back to affect those responsible for polluting it. As a result of the fact that all living things are interdependent on one another, it is necessary to pay attention to the health of other living things to coexist on this planet properly.

References

Ahamed, A., Vallam, P., Iyer, N. S., Veksha, A., Bobacka, J., & Lisak, G. (2021). Life cycle assessment of plastic grocery bags and their alternatives in cities with confined waste management structure: A singapore case study. Journal of Cleaner Production, 278, 123956. Web.

Allen, S., Allen, D., Moss, K., Le Roux, G., Phoenix, V. R., & Sonke, J. E. (2020). Examination of the ocean as a source for atmospheric microplastics. PLOS ONE, 15(5). Web.

Cai, W.-J., Feely, R. A., Testa, J. M., Li, M., Evans, W., Alin, S. R., Xu, Y.-Y., Pelletier, G., Ahmed, A., Greeley, D. J., Newton, J. A., & Bednaraek, N. (2021). Natural and anthropogenic drivers of acidification in large estuaries. Annual Review of Marine Science, 13(1), 2355. Web.

Falcón, J., Torriglia, A., Attia, D., Viénot, F., Gronfier, C., Behar-Cohen, F., Martinsons, C., & Hicks, D. (2020). Exposure to artificial light at night and the consequences for flora, fauna, and Ecosystems. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 14. Web.

Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Pendleton, L., & Kaup, A. (2019). People and the changing nature of coral reefs. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 30, 100699. Web.

Nguyen, K. A., Jolly, C. M., & Nguelifack, B. M. (2018). Biodiversity, Coastal Protection and Resource Endowment: Policy options for improving ocean health. Journal of Policy Modeling, 40(2), 242264. Web.

The history of plastics according to this paper dates back to the mid-1800 when humans started using natural products with plastic characteristics such as chewing gum. Later it was modified by use of chemicals on naturally occurring substances to produce materials such as rubber. The earliest invention of plastics was made by Alexander Parkes who through laboratory experiments and projects came up with the first plastic which was known as celluloid, but he named it Parkesine. From then, other scientists such as Leo Baekeland worked towards producing more chained plastic products as he created Bakelite which was a significant achievement as it was the first real synthetic plastic produced in large amounts.

The idea of polymerization which leads to the production of the most common plastic i.e. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) first came into realization between 1838-1872.From these time on humans grew interested in the use of plastics to the present day. The paper states that plastic is a non-bio-degradable compound harbors more threat to marine life and activities at large. Marine animals can ingest plastic disposed of in the sea where ingested plastics may block their digestive tracts and eventually lead to their death. The article points out that the other effect that plastic has on these helpless animals is that they can get entangled in the plastic thus get drowned, their capacity to feed or escape from their predators compromised, and get wounded from attached plastic particles. In severe cases like the North Pacific Ocean situation, plastic pollution leads to a reduction in public safety at the environment which eventually proofs costly to the tourism and fisheries sector of the country as outlined in the paper.Information in this article clearly outlines the impact of plastic on the marine environment and clearly brings out valuable knowledge to the public on the awareness of plastic effects and need to control their use.

National Geographic.Why North Pacific Ocean is the most polluted ocean as retrieved from. (2014). This paper points out that Pacific ocean being the largest ocean in the world and touching several continents is partly a reason as to why it falls on the most polluted sea. Again it ‘houses’ the Great Pacific Garbage Patch where there are about 3.5 million tons of trash in the patch piled up in the water, with the main reason being that plastic is the hardest material to be destroyed.

Law, Kara Lavender, Skye Morét-Ferguson, Nikolai A. Maximenko, Giora Proskurowski, Emily E. Peacock, Jan Hafner, and Christopher M. Reddy, “Plastic Accumulation in the North Atlantic Subtropical gyre,” Science 329, no. 5996 (2010): 1185-1188. This paper shows that plastic is non-biodegradable, and humans prefer it to other materials after which they just throw the plastic in the ocean. Nearly 80 percent of this pollution originates from the plastic used on land. It is estimated that 1/5 of the pollution in the Pacific Ocean originates from ships at sea either purposefully or accidentally dumping waste or cargo in there. The paper further explains and educates on the reasons as to why the North Pacific Ocean is the most polluted.

The paper starts by pointing out that Plastic must never be burnt and that we should always recycle used plastic as burning plastic comes with health and environmental damages. It rightly states that when plastic is burnt, carbon monoxide which is a wellknown harmful gas is one of the main products together with dioxin which is a toxic organic chemical that contains chlorine and when inhaled or got into contact with its fumes may lead to many deadly results. Another dangerous product as outlined by the paper review is Furan. It is a by-product of burning plastic, and it is a chemical compound linked to cancer and other serious respiratory diseases. Burning plastic increases the production and emission of greenhouse gasses which eventually leads to global warming which is a dangerous situation the world can be in as stated in. Linak, William P., Jeffrey V. Ryan, Erica Perry, Ron W. Williams, and David M. DeMarini, “Chemical and Biological Characterization of Products of Incomplete Combustion from the Simulated Field Burning of Agricultural Plastic,” JAPCA 39, no. 6 (1989): 836- 846.

The paper states that burning of plastic leads to pollution ranging from air pollution which is the main one as it affects not only those who are burning it but their neighbors too. Soil contamination when the ashes from burning plastic get into the ground and interfere with ph thus serious soil problems.

Water pollution is brought by burning of plastic which affects both dry land and marine life. The disadvantages of burning plastic as justified by these papers are severe that we must not encourage it anytime soon. Research and information from this paper show the dangers associated with burning of plastics as it creates awareness on the same.

This paper points out that the most efficient and easier way to reduce plastic and thus pollution is by recycling the used plastics. The two scholars further note that this will ensure no production of more plastics. The other method that the paper points out that can be used to reduce plastics and has been tried in various countries such as Rwanda is by the government coming up with a policy that bars the use of plastic bags as package materials. It will reduce to an extent the amount of plastic in production.

The main ways of reducing plastic use are through self-policing. We need to set selfpolicies that govern us from using plastic bags and recycling the ones we already own. It is more of individual efforts that group that can help reduce plastic. Eriksen, Marcus, Laurent CM Lebreton, Henry S. Carson, Martin Thiel, Charles J. Moore, Jose C. Borerro, Francois Galgani, Peter G. Ryan, and Julia Reisser, “Plastic Pollution in the World’s Oceans: More Than 5 Trillion Plastic Pieces Weighing Over 250,000 Tons Afloat at Sea,” PloS one 9, no. 12 (2014): e111913.

As much as humans prefer and have been using plastic from time immemorial, plastics have proved to be more disadvantageous and hazardous than expected and therefore we need to recycle the existing ones to avoid further production for the betterness of our environment and our beloved earth at large. According to this paper, plastics makes up a good percentage of ocean pollutants.

Every year, millions of kilograms of plastic and other pollutants enter the ocean. Where do the pollutants come from? Where does this waste…eventually go? And why is it allowed? the pollution in the oceans is killing animals and killing the plants that we need to breathe. Other forms of pollution that impact the health of the ocean are run off from fertilizers or big oil spills and yet, if the pollution did not go in the ocean where would it go? Would it be scattered across our national parks or buried underground left to biodegrade over thousands of years so, is the sea the right place to dump it?

Most of the ocean’s plastic pollution comes from rivers. A small amount plastic comes from a land-based source and rivers are potentially a highway system for all sizes of plastic pollution to hitch a ride on and float out into the ocean. Plastic waste being thrown into rivers is directly related to the poor management of plastic waste not having a place to go causing rivers to put the most plastic into the ocean. large rivers primarily LEDC’s with a dense population of people surrounding them (e.g., the Hooghly River in India and the Meghna River in Bangladesh) pollute a higher fraction of waste into the sea than regular dumping. The 10 most polluted rivers carry 95% of the worlds plastic pollution into the sea. More than 4 tonnes of plastic are transported into the sea everyday by people dumping into rivers making rivers the main source of ocean pollution. Many marine animals are used as food sources for humans such as sushi where fish like tuna and salmon are consumed however the pollution of oceans results in these animals having defects and them becoming toxic. Which in turn can cause illness in humans if consumed to much which is ironic as it was caused by humans.

Human pollution is damaging and potentially fatal to marine life in many ways. It is well-documented that animals can become trapped in plastic, but the debris can also be a choking hazard, with animals mistaking plastic for food. Unfortunately, many animals starve because of swallowing plastic because it clogs their digestive system. 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million sea birds are killed by marine plastic pollution annually. It is estimated that 56% of the planet’s whale, dolphin and porpoise species have consumed toxic plastic. This can cause many species of marine animals to become extinct which could also be detrimental to other species in the ecosystem as they have no food source causing even more animals to perish. This has been shown as marine biologists have seen a decrease in a variety of species in marine life over the past 50 years. This means unequivocally that ocean pollution is not good for the environment.

The most common man-made pollutants that reach the ocean environment include pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers, oil, industrial chemicals, and sewage. Many ocean pollutants are released into the environment far upstream from coastlines mainly in rivers. Nutrient-packed fertilisers applied to farmland, for example, often end up in local streams from run of due to excessive rainfall and are eventually deposited into estuaries and bays. These excess nutrients result in massive algae blooms that deplete the water of oxygen, leaving dead zones where large marine animals cannot live. Some chemical metals climb high into the food webs like mercury, found in old fungicides responsible for making fish toxic and fatal to consume and also making drinking water unsafe to drink. Scientists are starting to understand how specific pollutants, leached into the ocean from other materials, affect marine wildlife. chemicals incorporated into many household products, accumulates in human and marine mammal blood. Even pharmaceuticals ingested by humans, but not fully processed by our bodies, end up in aquatic food webs from sewage run off making the animals toxic and eventually making us toxic from the food we eat.

The main reason people and businesses dump waste at sea is that it is easy and a very cost-efficient solution to discarding humans waste materials and as it is known that there is more area to dump this waste in the oceans rather than the land. For an individual, there may be little regulation for it and no landfill fees to pay. Naturally, something being illegal does not always prevent individuals or companies from doing it, and the oceans are a difficult place to regulate due to their sheer scale. You might notice somebody dropping chemical barrels in a pristine local lake, but somebody doing the same thing in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean is unlikely to be spotted. Chances are high that anybody violating local, national, or international regulations simply will not get caught and will continue to do it until they get caught or an easier way presents itself.

Conclusion

In conclusion I think ocean pollution is not only immoral but horrendous. The fact that hundreds of thousands of plants and animals die from consuming pollutants is disgusting and being directly responsible for algae blooms and the dead zones they create. The companies that are trying to clear up the plastic pollutions are turning them into something that could be useful and can be worn by humans this better use of plastic is a positive step forward for the future, as the money made from these recycled plastics is going back into fixing and clearing up the oceans. As the pollution in earth’s oceans is such a current issue that needs to be dealt with therefore it should be widely discussed in public spaces and being made aware of more as it is not always talked about. The stupidity of polluting is tolerated in some places and Something needs to change, ocean clean-up is going to be detrimental to the planet’s future. It is up to all of us to rise to the challenge and make a difference and limit the extent of ocean pollution.

Crude oil (petroleum) is a highly complex mixture of organic compounds of which some 1.3 million liters enters the environment each year. Oil spills occur way to often causing a messy decontamination challenge to our environment. What is helping the ocean become cleaner and decontaminated? It’s a bacterium that is called Alcanivorax borkumensis that reacts rapidly when there is a large amount of oil in the ocean or soil.

What exactly is Alcanivorax borkumensis? This is a bacterium that benefits our beautiful ocean, it is an alkane degrading marine bacterium and naturally becomes important in crude-oil-containing seawater or soil. It’s a specialized metabolism adapted to the degradation of petroleum oil hydrocarbons. A significant job in the clean‐up after an oil spill and structure the organic reason for the characteristic oil‐degrading limit of the biological system. Studies have concentrated on recognizing and portraying these oil‐eating microorganisms, just as how they adapt to the oil/water interface, and how to improve this limit.

This bacterium was first identified in 1998 near the Isle of Borkum in the North Sea. It is a gram-negative, rod formed, it is aerobic, meaning it uses oxygen to gain energy, and it is halophilic, meaning it tends to live in environments that contain salt, such as salty ocean water and can utilizes alkanes as its rule of carbon and vitality source by utilization of the expansive range of oil-debasing proteins it has. Yet they can likewise utilize a set number of natural mixes, for example, aliphatic hydrocarbons, unstable unsaturated fats, and pyruvate. In any case, it can’t use carbon sources, for example, sugars or amino acids. Microorganism’s genome contains the codes of a few fascinating proteins and it is named ‘hydrocarbon clastic.’

A.borkumensis can be the current leading species present inside a polluted area and can involve up to 80% to 90% of the oil-corrupting microbial population present. A.borkumensis is present in all seas and floats throughout the ocean. It will duplicate quickly in territories where the grouping of oil mixes is high, which somewhat clarifies the natural degradation observed after certain crude-oil spills. Number of various conditions to show that it is an incredible method to tidy up dirtied land and marine situations

An example illustrating the significance of A.borkumensis is the Enbridge oil spill that occurred in July 2010 in Michigan’s Kalamazoo River Enbridge Oil Spill, close to 900,000 gallons of crude oil into the water due to a ruptured pipeline. As well in April 2010 Gulf of Mexico Deep Horizon Spill, over 130,000,000 gallons of crude oil going into the water after an explosion. Over time, scientists discovered A.borkumensis populations to flourish and the degradation of crude oil to be accelerated. If not in part to the metabolism of A.borkumensis the decimation of wildlife and marine populations would have been hazardous levels of termination.

A.borkumensis is a native species and is adapted to living in oil-contaminated aquatic environments. Its genome encodes for a wide range of effective oil-corrupting catalysts that can be utilized in bioremediation of oil spills. This gives A.borkumensis with an upper hand in that it can expend a more extensive assortment of alkanes than other known species and consequently become the predominant populace in an oil-debased territory. Scientists are also looking to isolate genes encoding oil-degrading systems and insert these into a novel organism that can be used to remediate oil spills.

There are dangers related with every one of these strategies. The expansion of phosphorus and nitrogen as manure may taint amphibian situations further and bother natural debasement. Concerning genomic move there is the possibility of rapid DNA evolution. Molecular evolution which can result in harmful, dominant bacteria that can choke other existing species in aquatic environments.

A.borkumensis can utilize n-alkanes, aliphatic hydrocarbons, unstable unsaturated fats and pyruvate as carbon and vitality sources. When utilizing just n-alkanes as carbon and vitality sources, A.borkumensis produces extracellular and film bound glucose lipids named biosurfactants. Bio-surfactants are pivotal to the biodegradation of oil since they decrease surface pressure of water and go about as common emulsifiers to elute oil out of water.

In this way making it accessible to biodegrade albeit little is thought about the careful component utilized by A.borkumensis to biodegrade oil, a theory condenses the strategy with the accompanying advances are oil spillage into oceanic conditions causes an expansion in phosphorus and nitrogen fixations, expanded supplement accessibility causes A.borkumensis to utilize and develop quicker; populace builds, A.borkumensis connects and shapes a biofilm around the oil bead.

The biofilm helps in the enrollment of extra microscopic organisms to the site of defilement, AlkB1 and AlkB2 catalysts integrated and are utilized to oxidize C-alkanes, subsequently catalyzing the debasement of oil, Bio-surfactant delivered and breaks oil and water emulsions to make oil all the more promptly accessible for A.borkumensis. These cells were refined either in a spotless domain condition (disintegrated natural carbon) or in an oil slick condition. The capacity of these microbes to tie to the oil/water interface was checked through interfacial strain estimations, bacterial cell hydrophobicity, and fluorescence microscopy.

A.borkumensis cells cultured in clean environment conditions stay hydrophilic and do not show significant transport or binding to the oil/water interface. In sharp contrast, bacteria cultured in oil spill conditions become partially hydrophobic and their amphiphilicity drives them to oil/water interfaces, where they lessen interfacial strain and structure the beginning periods of a biofilm. A.borkumensis cells that connect to the oil/water interface and not an orchestrated bio-surfactant that is discharged into arrangement that lessens interfacial pressure.

If it wasn’t for this bacterium our ocean would be in major trouble, especially when the BP Deepwater Platform happened back in 2010 as well Michigan’s Kalamazoo River Enbridge Oil Spill two of the biggest oil spills in the world. I had no idea that there was a good bacteria that could eat oil until something was said in class. This topic is very interesting to learn and that there is so much hope and possibility for our ocean. It’s wonderful that this bacterium helps clean our ocean and soil especially when it’s hard to get to places that we can’t get to. Especially our soil that is mostly affected too.

I find that Mother Nature is amazing, she created something that helps us tremendously. So I’ve been thinking about going into Microbiology for the longest time but wasn’t really sure what I would do with it. After I’ve done my research about A.borkumensis, this has really made me want to go do research out in the field and learn about these bacterium that benefit our world and possibly help the world as well.

My uncle was a influence about this essay, he was one of the ones to help stop the oil spill in the Gulf and I just think how cool would it be if I was a Microbiologist to help the environment and species from crude oil. Not only the oil spill topics encourage me, just microbiology is awesome to learn and learn about all these bacteria that we have on this planet and I’m sure millions of unknowns to figure out as well.