A Level Geography - Oceans part 3
Where and when did the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill take place?
It took place in the Gulf of Mexico and it occurred on the 20th of April in 2010.
What is ocean acidification?
The lowering of the pH in the oceans due to the increased absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
How much did Exxon pay in clean up costs?
$2.1 billion
What were the social impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill?
- 13 people killed - 17 injured - Visual pollution for people - Affected people's employability, because tourism and fishing industries were negatively impacted. - 58,000 people are employed by the oil industry in Louisiana. oil accounts for about 17% of all Louisiana jobs. Now that a six-month moratorium exists on drillign deep-water drilling, these people face unemployment. - 143 the number of oil spill exposure-related health cases recorded by the Louisiana Department of Health between April and June. Cases included 108 working on the clean up efforts ; 35 were working on a voluntary basis. Symptoms included dizziness, vomiting, nausea, headaches, and chest pains.
How many species is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia home to?
- 1500 fish species - 350 coral species - 4000 mollusc species - 500 algae species - 24 seabird species - More than 30 species of whale, dolphin and the dugong.
What were the environmental impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill?
- 4080 dead birds - 525 dead sea turtles - Disrupted mating patterns of brown pelicans - Beach-nesting terns and gulls roost on the sand and plunge into the water to feed, so they are double at risk from the oil. - Because oil floats, sea turtles are at risk from oil. During nesting, not only can turtles be oiled on the beach, but their eggs may suffer chemical exposure which can result in decreased survival of hatchlings. - Oil sits on the ocean surface and therefore prevents sunlight being received by marine species, such as coral, because the oil means that the sunlight cannot penetrate through. - 1600 km of shoreline was polluted - 180,000 km squared of the Gulf was affected - 20% of the juvenile bluefin tuna were killed by oil in the Gulf's most important spawning area.
What is albedo?
- Albedo is the fraction of solar energy (shortwave radiation) reflected from the Earth back into space. it is a measure of the reflectivity of the Earth's surface. - Ice has a high albedo, as most sunlight which hits it is reflected back to space. - Water is much more absorbant and less reflective. So a lot of water means that more solar radiation is absorbed by the ocean than when ice dominates. - Albedo is important for the Arctic in the spring and summer, because the radiation entering through can greatly increase the melt rate of the sea ice.
What are some impacts of ocean acidification on marine biodiversity?
- An increase in acidity of the sea water can result in drops in metabolic reactions and drops in immune responses. - A decrease in pH can also cause the destruction of coral and shells by chemical reactions that result in an overall drop in the amount of carbonate ions available. - The single celled organisms called Foraminifera and Coccolithopores (which are very important, because they are at the bottom of the food web) are also affected by the pH levels.
Who is involved politically in the Arctic region management?
- Arctic states - Ottawa declaration - Task Force on Arctic Marine Cooperation (TFAMC) - Task Force on Telecommunications Infrastructure in the Arctic (TFTIA) - Task Force for Enhancing Scientific Cooperation in the Arctic (SCTF) - 6 working groups: ACAP, AMAP, CAFF, EPPR, PAME, SDWG. - Aleut International Association, Arctic Athabasken Council, Gwich in Council International, the Inuit Circumpolar Council, the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples off the North and the Saami Council.
What are some political impacts of climate change in the Arctic?
- At a meeting in Alaska, March 2016, the Arctic Council gathered to address ongoing efforts on a range of topics including climate change. Discussion included focuses on multiple projects aimed at building resilience to climate change in Arctic communities,the "One Health" initiative, and placing the Council's overall work on climate change in the context of COP21. - Recent ice melt has meant that Russia, Canada and Denmark have carried out mapping exercises to delineate their respective continental shelves according to UNCLOS and to stake their legal claims to potentially lucrative rights. The results of these exercises have included high levels of media attention and a perceived increase in suspicion and distrust. - The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, in particular on issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.
What are some more economic impacts of climate change in the Arctic?
- Awareness of the resource potential of the Arctic rose enormously after the US Geological Survey published its estimates of Arctic hydrocarbon reserves in 2008. These estimates suggested that the region holds 13% of the world's undiscovered oil and 30% of the world's undiscovered natural gas. - Decline in northern freshwater fisheries, but enhanced marine fisheries - The Northern Sea Route, north of Canada, is the quickest way of travelling from Europe to the Pacific and Asia, but, until now the ice has only allowed ships to use it for about 6 weeks between August and October. Now, tourist ships are able to visit northern Canada and 30% of Inuit now earn income from sculpture or print making for tourists.
What are the government management strategies?
- Coastal: increasing resilience of coastal areas and settlement to climate change - Agricultural: increasing subsistence pit grown pulaka productivity through introduction of a salt-tolerant pulaka species. - Water: adaptation to frequent water shortages through increasing household water capacity, water collection accessories, and water conservation techniques. - Health: strengthening of community health through control of vector borne / climate sensitive diseases and promotion access to quality potable water. - Fisheries: strengthening of community based conservation programmes on highly vulnerable near-shore marine ecosystems. - Disaster: strengthening community disaster preparedness and response potential.
What are some threats to local communities from the disruption to coral ecosystems?
- Coral reefs provide provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting ecosystem services. - They directly act as a buffer for coastlines from high energy waves such as during a tropical storm or from a tsunami. - Without coral, losses of life, property and amenities (e.g. beaches) would be greater. - The global economic value of shoreline protection from coral reefs has been estimated at about US $10 billion per year. - Coral reefs play a significant role, because they are location where fish species are harvested by humans. Without this - food security and the fishing economy would be lost.
What is coral?
- Corals are marine polyps (a type of invertebrate) - Each polyp is a sac-like animal typically only a few millimetres in diameter and a few centimetres in length. - Polyps secrete a protective skeleton around themselves made up of calcium carbonate. - Some corals catch their food by using small stinging tentacles, but most live in synopsis with algae known as zooxanthellae.
What is the Arctic Council?
- Diversity of indigenous people is represented. - It is a high level intergovernmental forum that addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic. - It was established in 1996
State some impacts of sea level rise on Tuvalu
- During spring tides, sea water bubbles up through the ground - Seawater is poisoning the soil and groundwater - They are losing land on sides of island -Continuously flooded - Flooding is more frequent - Tuvalu's high tide mark is rising by 5mm every year - More than 4000 Tuvaluans live in New Zealand - Tuvalu's housing and food is being affected - Ocean side and lagoon side have all been eroded - Fishes are getting smaller and smaller - Strange weather patterns - Increased ocean acidification
What are some impacts of ocean acidification on fish stocks?
- Fish species, such as herring and mackerel and some whales use sea butterflies as a food source. Sea butterflies are small snail-like creatures which are about the size of peas and they are part of the zooplankton community in the upper zone of the oceans. In good conditions they exist at about 2000 individuals per metre cubed. As they are at the bottom of the food chain, if they are destroyed, the entire system is put at risk, because some fish may die, because they have lost their food source of sea butterflies. - Some shellfish have been known to have difficulties when making their shells in acidic water - Mussels also face difficulties when in acidic water, because they clung to rocks by a thread-like material which is less effective in acidic water.
Who is involved in the Arctic Council?
- Eight member countries constitute the council: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and USA. - There are 8 countries with sovereignty over the lands within the Arctic Circle.
What are some economic impacts of climate change in the Arctic?
- Enhanced agriculture and forestry - As large areas of snow and ice melt, exposing new land and open sea, the Arctic will become more accessible, and vulnerable to exploitation for oil, gas, fish and other resources. - The melting sea ice has intensified speculation about the increased potential usability of the Northwest Passage for the shipment of goods between Europe and Asia. Some predict that the shortened distance will reduce the costs of shipping, making the passage an attractive alternative to the Panama Canal. As a result, the question in the Canada-US relationship of whether the Northwest Passage is an international strait or internal Canadian waters has intensified.
What are some environmental impacts of climate change on the Arctic?
- Enhanced agriculture and forestry - The melting of ice could make the Arctic Ocean less saline and warmer. This would weaken the formation of the Arctic conveyor which draws the warm water Gulf Stream current northwards. The loss of warm Gulf Stream would cause dramatic cooling of the climate in north western Europe. - Vegetation zones are predicted to shift northwards, with coniferous forests approaching on tundra and on ice deserts. This shift will destabilise existing food webs. The longer, warmer growing season will be a benefit to Arctic agriculture although soils will be a limiting factor. - Water from melting ice sheets and glaciers will contribute to rising sea levels globally.
Describe the background of Tuvalu
- Extremely small - Isolated atoll island nation - Dispersed within Pacific Ocean - Categorised as an LIDC due to its relatively low national income; weak human resources, and extreme economic vulnerability to external stresses. - It is anticipated that Tuvalu will suffer the greatest from adverse impacts of climate change. - Home to 12,000 people - Sea walls are their only defence - During spring tides, sea water bubbles up through the ground. - Seawater is poisoning the soil and groundwater
How does the melting of land ice impact sea level rise?
- Global warming is resulting in an increase in air temperatures. - Glaciers and small ice caps such as in the Andes and Himalayas are melting. The water released from the melting flows via rivers into the oceans - this contributes to the rising sea level.
How does the thermal expansion of seawater impact sea level rise?
- Global warming is resulting in an increase in surface water temperatures - This thermal expansion of water causes a rise in sea level - As the temperature increases, the surface water temperature also increases. This causes the density of the water to decrease, this brings about an increase in the volume of water in the ocean basins.
State some adaptations that governments have put in place
- Government is planning migration of 10,000 which are left. - With support of the UN development programme, the Government of Tuvalu has named 7 most urgent climate change adaptation priorities. - Since 2009, UNDP is assisting the government in implementing 6 of these priority actions with financial support from the least developed countries fund and AusAID. - Building sea defences and green belts - Training of local farmers to adapt practices to environmental changes. Food production will be increased - By shifting shellfish populations to more suitable sites, implementing onshore breathing programmes and harvesting sustainably. Shellfish stocks will be regenerated. Fishfarming and nearshore cage farms.
What techniques were used in an attempt to clean up the spill?
- Hot water treatment - High pressure cold water treatment - Mechanical clean up - Chemical dispersant agents - Bioremediation - Oil burns
What are some impacts of ocean acidification on humans?
- If sea creatures, such as fish and crabs are destroyed by ocean acidification, people will lose: a key food source, fisheries, tourism and aquaculture. Many people will lose food security. - People will miss out on a source of protein if fish populations decline. - Many countries, such as Japan, Norway and Canada, will lose money because there will be a small amount of fish for harvest.
What are some threats to the biodiversity of coral reefs?
- Increased sea water temperatures lead to coral bleaching events - Sea level rise increasing the depth of water over corals thereby reducing light levels - Increased wave energy from greater number of more intense tropical storms (hurricanes/cyclones/typhoons) - Ocean acidification reduces coral's ability to build carbonate structures.
What are the reasons for the increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
- Increasing burning of fossil fuels - Transport - Deforestation - Building
State some threats to Tuvalu as a result of sea level rise
- It is anticipated that Tuvalu will suffer the greatest from adverse impacts of climate change - The islands could soon become inhabitable - Eventually, the islands may have to be evacuated - this would be a unprecedented move - an entire nation relocated
What happened at the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill?
- It resulted from an explosion on a BP oil rig - Caused the death of 13 people, 11 of whom were on the oil rig at the time, and two oil related deaths. - 17 others were injured - Oil continued to gush out the well for 3 months - on the 19th of September the relief well process was successfully completed and the government declared the well 'effectively dead'. However the oil spill continued to cause extensive damage to marine and terrestrial habitats and to the Gulf of Mexico's tourism and fishing industries. - The oil leak was successfully plugged on July the 15th in 2010, using a tightly fitted cap.
What were some responses to the oil spill?
- It took 3 months to cap the oil well - 170 US coast guard vessels, 7500 employees, and 2000 volunteers had been engaged in grassroots clen-up activity. - 23 countries offered to aid the clean up efforts. 70 offers were received from across those 23. 8 were accepted, involving the assistance of 12 different countries. - Skimming surface oil: booms towed by small manoeuvrable boats collect oil; the oil is then scooped up and taken away. - Burning surface oil; surface oil is collected in a fire-proof boom; the oil is then burned. - Dispersants: chemicals break the oil into smaller particles to prevent oil slicks forming; these were sprayed from the air and by bots. 1.84 million gallons of dispersants were used; evaporation and biological degradation by oil-consuming bacteria then removes the oil.
What are some impacts on indigenous people as a result of climate chnage?
- Life at risk, because the land that they live on (sea ice and permafrost) is melting. - Decline in food security - Fishing now more dangerous, because the ice can collapse - Villages under threat due to increased storms - Disruption of land based transport - Improved transport through water - Area now more navigable by canoe
What are some factors which impact sea level rise?
- Melting of land ice - The melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets - Thermal expansion of seawater
How has the Arctic Council management changed since 1996?
- More member countries have joined (Canada was first in 1996-98) - Task forces have since been established to carry out specific work: - TFAMC - TFTIA (telecommunications) - SCTF (scientific co-op)
What are the weaknesses of Arctic region management?
- No programming budget - Project needs to be sponsored in order to go ahead - Does not and cannot implement/enforce its guidelines, assessments or recommendations. - Explicitly excludes military service
What are some more adaptations that governments are doing?
- Rainwater is collected and then managed by the Tuvaluan government - 500 metres cubed of water storage capacity to prepare for longer droughts which are expected - Increasing exists to potable water and water cleaning techniques. Water disease outbreaks will be controlled and community health increased. - Government is establishing more robust communication infrastructure in all islands, so that people are prepared for natural disasters.
How will the coral reefs that surround Tuvalu be affected?
- Reef growth are on the slow side (2mm per year) - It is expected that the coral growth rate will not be able to tolerate the rise in sea level. - Increases in sea water temperature are likely to bleach the coral - The increase in carbon dioxide is also likely to destroy the coral.
Why do countries dispute over control of areas of the Arctic ocean?
- Strategical and economic importance in the region - To gain influence in the region (Russia controls Barentsburg Svalbard) - Access to a brand new ocean - Resources become more accessible every year - New shipping routes - Now navigable for longer periods - 200 nm border - Rest of ocean is up for grabs for anyone that can prove that it belongs to them - Tourism in Barentsburg
Describe the conditions needed for coral to survive
- Temperature: mean annual water temperature not less tan about 18 degrees Celsius, ideally around 26 degrees Celsius. - Salinity: corals require salinity levels greater than 30,000 - 32,000 ppm. - Water depth: 25m or less - Light: algae require light for photosynthesis. - Clear water: sediment reduces the light available for photosynthesis. It can also cover the coral and clog up the feeding tubes. - Wave action: the water needs to be well oxygenated so some wave action is needed, but not so much that it might physically damage the coral.
How does the melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets impact sea level rise?
- The central portions of the ice sheets are thickening slightly as ice accumulates. - However, the margins of the ice sheets are ablating and thinning rapidly , and flows of ice towards the sea are accelerating.
What is Tuvalu's climate like?
- The climate is unpredictable - There are no longer distinct seasons - There are either severe droughts or extreme flooding - Rain showers are frequent - Warm, tropical climate - Throughout the year, temperatures range from 25 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius. - Precipitation exceeds 3000 mm per year - Hours of sunlight range from 6 to 8 throughout the year. - Satellite data indicates that the sea level near Tuvalu has risen by 5 mm per year since 1933.
What are the strengths of Arctic Region management?
- There is an organisation and countries working together to sustainably care for the Arctic environment - Protects wildlife and indigenous people - Brought countries together - reduces conflict.
What are some social impacts of climate change in the Arctic?
- The human inhabitants of the Arctic will face losing some of their land to the sea. The melting of sea ice and permafrost will result in the direct loss of hunting grounds for them, as land slips into the sea. Infrastructure, although relatively limited over much of the Arctic, is also threatened. - Reductions in the area of sea ice could have the effect of improving transport and communication for the local communities. In a warmer world, heating costs are also expected to be lower - Loss of hunting culture and decline of food security for indigenous people. - Each winter Inuit men take their fishing shacks and equipment on to the ice for three months. Now the weaker and thinner sea ice collapses easily, making it more dangerous.
What are some more social impacts of climate change in the Arctic?
- The indigenous people of the Arctic have a relatively low adaptive capacity, Their ability to relocate dwellings or associated infrastructure in the face of reductions in the area of sea ice and permafrost is limited by low levels of development and, in some cases their t traditional way of life. There are concerns that without substantial assistance from sources outside of the Arctic communities, whole cultures and ways of life could be at risk. - With global warming reducing the area of sea ice in the Arctic, the whole region in fact becomes more navigable by canoe, boat or ship. This is especially true with respect to the Arctic winter, when large areas of the polar region are usually inaccessible due to ice. - The ice used to protect Inuit villages along the coast. However, coasts are now exposed to more ocean waves and storms, causing the destruction of entire villages, and forcing people to move further inland. - Increasing access for marine shipping, but disruption of land based transport because of permafrost thawing.
How was tourism affected by the spill?
- There were less visitors into the area - Businesses areas affected by the spill, 43% felt their businesses had been significantly or completely affected by the oil spill in September 1989. - Severe labour shortage in the tourist industry due to traditional service industry workers seeking high-paying clean up jobs. - Apartment companies and tour companies were most affected, as people didn't want to visit the area.
Define positive feedback loops
Enhance or amplify changes, this tends to move a system away from its equilibrium state and make it more unstable.
What does the Arctic Council manage?
- The work of the council is carried out by 6 groups - The Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP) encourages national actions to reduce emissions and other pollutants. - Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna working group (CAFF): biodiversity and sustainability. - The Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Working Group (EPPR): environment and protect from pollutants/radionuclides. - Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP): environment, ecosystems, science advice and human populations. - PAME: protection and sustainability - SDWG: sustainable development and improve conditions.
What is the Tuvalu red cross society?
- Working with locals, the government and outside agencies cohesively. - Using the media to raise awareness of climate change - Running disaster simulations and drills - Satellite hones on each island - Planting new vegetation to act as a natural buffer zone.
Describe coral's relationship with zooxanthellae
- Zooxanthellae are algae - These algae release nutrients via photosynthesis, which the polyps feed on - In return, the algae are sheltered within the hard coral skeleton and obtain some minerals from the coral. - The algae contain pigments which give coral its colour.
Explain what happens if the ideal conditions for coral change
- if the temperature exceeds their tolerance, the relationship between coral polyp and algae is disturbed. - At its most extreme, many of the algae are expelled, depriving the coral of colours. - These coral bleaching episodes have been noticed all around the tropics. - Changes in salinity, for example a sudden flood of freshwater run-off from the land. Such jets of water often carry high levels of suspended sediment, which also stress the coral ecosystem.
What is pH?
- pH measures how acidic or basic the water is - pH measures the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution - The higher the concentration of hydrogen ions, the lower the pH. - The higher the amount of hydroxide ions - the lower the hydrogen particles, so the higher the pH.
Describe one way that a drop in pH can harm marine life.
A drop in pH can harm marine life, because the acidic conditions are eroding the shells/exoskeletons of marine species, e.g. clams,oysters, urchins and terapods.
Define pH
A measure of a solution's acidity. It measures the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. A higher pH (pH 8-14) is alkaline (basic) and a lower pH (0-6) is acidic.
What is the typical albedo of open ocean?
0.06
What is the typical albedo of deciduous trees?
0.15 - 0.18
What is the typical albedo of desert sand?
0.40
What is the typical albedo of ocean ice?
0.5 - 0.7
Why is there less carbonate in the ocean for shell building?
1) Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean 2) The carbon dioxide reacts with the seawater to form carbonic acid. The seawater pH is lowered. 3) Due to the action of carbonic acid, much calcium bicarbonate formed. The carbonate concentrations are diluted, making it difficult for organisms to form shells made of calcium carbonate.
How do rising temperatures cause coral bleaching?
1) Temperature increases above coral tolerance 2) Relationship between coral polyp and algae is disturbed 3) When extreme, many of the algae are expelled 4) This causes a deprivation of colour in the coral.
State the steps of the greenhouse effect
1) There is an increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. 2) Infra-red radiation from the sun passes through the Earth's atmosphere 3) The radiation is absorbed by the Earth's surface (land and sea) 4) The heat from the sun's IR radiation is re-emitted from the Earth's surface back into the atmosphere. 5) Some of the sun's radiation is able to pass through the atmosphere and is lost in space. 6) The rest of the sun's radiation is reflected back to the surface of the Earth by the layer of greenhouse gases.
How many responders helped to clean up the spill?
10,000
How many miles of the coastline were covered in oil?
1300
How many killer whales were killed or affected?
20
How many sea birds were killed?
257,000
How many sea otters were killed?
2800
How many birds were killed?
35,000
What is the pH of pure water?
7
A Level Geography - Oceans part 3
A Level Geography - Oceans part 3
What pH indicates that a solution is basic or alkaline?
A pH higher than 7
What pH indicates that a solution is acidic?
A pH of less than 7 is acidic
What are acids?
Acids are compounds that when dissolved in water release positively charged hydrogen ions when dissolved in water
Are Bicarbonate ions useful for shell building?
Bicarbonate ions are useless for shell building, so therefore carbon dioxide being dissolved in the ocean affects shell building, because it converts the calcium carbonate needed for shell building into useless bicarbonate ions.
How will bigger organisms be affected by ocean acidification?
Bigger organisms, such as crabs, coral, oysters, etc. will also have problems with their ability to secrete calcium carbonate, because they depend so much on it. Carbon dioxide being dissolved by the ocean can increase the rate at which the shells of these organisms will take to dissolve.
What are ions?
Ions are positive or negative charged atoms or molecules.
Define organic molecules
Carbon-based molecules associated with living things include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, oils and nucleic acids such as DNA
What is the chemical reaction which shows carbonic acid breaking down the exoskeletons?
Carbonic acid + Calcium carbonate ----> Calcium ion + 2 Bicarbonate ions
What happens when the carbonic acid is dissolved in water?
Carbonic acid when dissolved in water releases hydrogen ions
Bases are caustic - what does caustic mean?
Caustic means that they destroy organic molecules. They have a bitter taste and slippery feel.
What material makes up the exoskeletons?
Chitin/calcium carbonate
What are compounds?
Compounds are pure substances formed from the chemical combination of two or more different elements.
Define bases
Compounds that when dissolved in water release negatively charged hydroxide ions when dissolved in water
How were heart defects a result of the oil spill?
Embryonic salmon and herring exposed to very low levels of crude oil can develop hidden heart defects that compromise their later survival, indicating that the spill may have had much greater impacts on spawning fish than previously recognised.
What happens when carbon dioxide is added to water?
It forms carbonic acid
How can excess carbon dioxide affect baby clownfish?
Excess of carbon dioxide can also make it hard for baby clownfish to be able to distinguish themselves between friends and enemies, and interfere with sensory mechanisms, such as the ability to hear predators.
Google the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Google the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
What is hypercapnia?
Hypercapnia is defined as an excess of carbon dioxide dissolved in the body fluid of organisms such as fish and squid. The carbon dioxide then goes on to mess with their immune system.
Define alkaline
Meaning "basic" - the opposite of acidic
What are molecules?
Molecules are particles formed from two or more atoms chemically combined in a specific way
Which marine animals have calcium carbonate shells?
Mollusks, corals and echinoderms
What is the influence of ocean currents on pollution?
Ocean currents influence which areas of the ocean are polluted, for example there are 6 specific areas in the ocean (between continents and 1 area in the Arctic region) where plastic accumulates as a result of the ocean currents. So the ocean currents influence how plastic moves and where it accumulates, and so therefore influence pollution, because areas where plastic accumulates are more polluted than areas where plastic doesn't accumulate.
Define negative feedback loops
Tend to dampen or buffer changes ; this tends to hold a system to some equilibrium state making it more stable.
Why is plastic pollution a global issue and not just a local or national problem?
Plastic pollution is a global issue, because plastic travels all over the ocean as a result of the ocean currents. Plastic could enter the ocean via Brazil, but then appear in the garbage patch next to Africa, so it would be harsh to say that the garbage patch is a national problem caused by South Africa, because the original plastic didn't come from them.
Why is plastic pollution a local and national issue too?
Plastic pollution is also a local and national issue too, because in Devon for example, the plastic can ruin the image of the beautiful coast at Devon, so could therefore decrease tourism. The plastic pollution becomes a local and national issue when it is affecting that country or place in some shape or form, for example negatively affecting the tourism in Devon. Another way in which plastic pollution can become a local and national issue too is if the plastic is threatening a species which is endemic to that area.
Where is the Prince William Sound?
Prince William Sound is a sound of the Gulf of Alaska, and it is where the Exxon Valdez oil tanker spilled.
Read the Arctic cards sheet for more environmental impacts
Read the Arctic cards sheet for more environmental impacts
How does carbon dioxide affect sea grasses?
Sea grasses do better with more carbon dioxide. Sea grasses are very important for feeding and as spawning sites for a variety of species, so if you enhance the growth of sea grasses - it could be good for the environment.
What do statoliths allow in squids?
Statoliths allow squids to sense pressure and changes in direction and movement
What happened and where was the Exxon Valdez Oil spill?
The Exxon Valdez oil spill was a man-made disaster, which occurred when Exxon Valdez (an oil tanker owned by the Exxon shipping company) spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound on the 24th of March, 1989. On 24 March 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound. The collision ruptured the tanker's hull, causing thousands of tonnes of poisonous crude oil to gush into the sheltered waters.
How can acidic environments affect the construction of ear bones and balance organs?
The acidic environments can affect the construction of ear bones and balance organs - these are known as statoliths (tiny little stones that squids make and hold in special chambers in their body.
What is bioremediation and how did it work?
The bioremediation technique involves adding fertilisers to enhance the growth of bacteria naturally present in the environment. These bacteria naturally present in the environment. These bacteria naturally degrade the toxic hydrocarbons in oil. Bacterial growth can be increased by applying fertilizers, which increase the availability of nitrogen and phosphorous, the nutrients bacteria need to utilize hydrocarbons as a food source.
What is the exoskeleten?
The external shell of an animal.
What is the function of Coccolithophores?
The function of Coccolithophores is to produce phytoplankton, but they are affected, because they need calcium carbonate to produce shells for themselves. Coccolithophores also produce a chemical which contributes to the formation of clouds. Some scientists believe that threatening the existence of these organisms could result in a reduction of cloud covering over the world, which could increase the rate of global warming eventually.
What are the functions of Foraminifera?
The function of Foraminifera is to make the shells of other sea creatures.
What happened to the salmon and herring population?
The herring population crashed four years after the spill in Prince William Sound and pink salmon stocks also declined. This affected food chains and biodiversity in the area.
Describe how the addition of carbon dioxide can lower the pH of seawater.
The ocean absorbs the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide causes the release of hydrogen ions, which makes the pH of seawater lower.
What do too many hydrogen ions and too many hydroxide particles do to aquatic life?
They harm aquatic life.
Why does the USA have so many bases around the world?
USA has so many bases around the world, because USA wants to form diplomatic relations between other nations - this can become useful when the USA is in a problem. Lots of countries are also happy to have US bases in their country, because it means more money and better security for them. USA having many bases around the world means that they have a very high and good power projection, because they are able to deploy and sustain many forces outside of the US.
What happens when acids and bases are dissolved in water?
When acids and bases are dissolved in water, their molecules are broken up into + or - charged particles known as ions.
What happens when carbon dioxide reacts with seawater and what effect does it have?
When carbon dioxide reacts with seawater - it releases hydrogen ions which compete with shells for carbonate.
What molecules do acids release when dissolved in water?
When dissolved in water, acids release positively charged hydrogen ions
How can you change the acoustics of the sea?
You can change the acoustics in the sea by changing the chemistry and that has huge implications on any animals that uses echolocation, for example carbon dioxide increases ocean noise as well as human activities.
