The Great Pacific Garbage Patch has become something we can no longer ignore. About 8 million tons of plastic enter the oceans each year, and this number is expected only to rise. Plastic is not biodegradable, however it breaks down into tiny pieces and disrupts marine life and ecosystems. This is a great threat to ocean health ultimately leading to a great human health threat. This problem must be stopped at the source, which starts with consumers being more aware of what they purchase and use. We are at a tipping point and we must decide which way we will fall.
I think that this is a huge problem for everyone around the world. I think that we need to work together to solve this issue before it cannot be fixed. We have become blind to this issue and have turned our heads for too long. In order to stop ocean pollution, a real change needs to be made. http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/30/world/plastic-plague-oceans/index.html
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The coral reefs off the coast of West Maui have been greatly effected from 2000- 2015. The living reefs have decline from thirty percent to ten percent and is due to the runoff of sediment from rain storms. The process of photosynthesis by the coral is inhibited with large amounts of sediment present, which then leads to algae appearing, damaging the coral.
They have found that the most cost effective way to reduce sediment runoff is simply have landowner cooperation. In attrition, the team is also looking at new methods to improve agricultural roads, most of which are gravel, causing high amounts of runoff. What they found is that the most cost effective way to approach the road problem is to target runoff hot spots rather than all road segments. The problem that the team is facing is money. The budget is very small in Hawaii so researchers are trying to find the most efficient solution to save the coral reefs. The declining health of the reefs is a flashing sign of cultural eutrophication and what will result if we do not reverse our ways. Reefs are a fragile ecosystem and must be cared for at all costs. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170302143810.htm In the county of San Diego, the DEH, Department of Environmental Health, had to issue a general advisory that stated there are high levels of bacteria in the oceans due to a combination of urban runoff and the stormy weather. These storms are apparently washing up bacteria from animal wastes, decomposing vegetation, and soil- a good enough reason to keep civilians out of the water for at least 72 hours. Usually there are warning signs by every coastal drainage system in San Diego, but even in places without these signs, the people of SD are advised to refrain from going into these contaminated waters. Factors like rain density, weather conditions and the volume of runoff will determine whether or not these elevated levels of bacterial contamination will persist after the storm has passed or die down.
Runoff seems to be a big issue for southern California, which does not surprise me. Once again, that region is further contaminated, whether it be from runoff or simply pollution. It irritates me because if the ocean water is being contaminated, what else is being contaminated? Their drinking water? If they do not get this under control in time, I can easily see this turning into a small catastrophe that possibly could have been avoided. http://timesofsandiego.com/life/2016/01/31/32534/ Climate change will not only affect our melting ice caps but also our animals in pig and poultry production. These animals are mostly kept in confined buildings that only had mechanical ventilation systems to cool the animals down. Unfortunately these systems didn’t work as well as most assumed. One solution for this is to use Earth Air Heat Exchanger, which cools in the summer and warms air during the wintertime.
Instead of just cooling or heating the compound it uses a heat exchanger in order to avoid humidification. This then improves the flow rate and air quality in the building. This is detrimental to the heath and well being of the animals. It may also change the performance of the animals and decrease the value of each animal. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171124084801.htm Due to the proximity and perpetual summer, the Pacific Islands region will continue to warm. This will cause lower levels of biogenies organisms which are the food source for the prey of many species of fish. This could result in as much as eighty percent loss of species in the area from extinction or the relocation of pelagic species to cooler waters.
They point out the need to follow the Paris Climate Agreement for green house gas emissions to halt the growing warming climate. I believe if we actually followed this agreement more often we could cut back on our loss of species. The impact to the people of these island is crucial for their survival, culturally, economically, and for food source. the imbalance and relocation of larger fish species will ultimately disrupt the harmonic cycle of life in other areas as well, once they repopulate. The University of California Santa Barbara investigated the deaths of 15 right whales. One student conducted research identifying the cause of death, all but two which were inconclusive, were anthropogenic mortalities. Due to the location of the carcasses much further north than usual indicates a larger foraging area than normal, indicating a low biological productivity of the zooplankton the whales feed upon. Indications of warmer currents up the coast of North America's east coast and warmer global temperatures. With only 500 animals left, the lack of food for breeding, and such a large mortality rate the future is bleak for the Right Whale.
Human intervention has caused most of the deaths of these whales, and human intervention is the only thing that can save these whales. If current global temperatures continue to rise, the Right Whale will not be the only species at risk. With more loss of habitat and food source due to the rising temperatures there is no quick fix. Raising awareness and proactive changes to halt global warming must take place. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171030154441.htm It is not possible for the Archaea, an abundant microorganism in the “dark ocean” or as we learned, the disphotic and aphotic zone which lies below 200 meters. They sampled in 40 locations around the globe in this particular water column, where they discovered the new bacteria. These new bacteria may make up only 5% of the population, but they are 50 times larger; with the ability to remove 1.1 gigatons of CO2. After logging 3500 genomes, they fully sequenced 30 representative samples that were singled out as nitrite-oxidizing organisms.
By isolating an organism that captures this much carbon dioxide, more attention can be pointed towards further research and protection of the organism. More research on the organism could also help promote growth of populations. This will eventually remove most of the harmful amounts of CO2 in the ocean .www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171127124706.htm Natural habitats play a much larger role in a species continuation or extinction. Just as a birds and chipmunks need trees, so do smaller species in the littoral zone. Whereas beds of mussels create a sort of air-conditioning for smaller species to survive. As long as the mussels exist the smaller species can survive. Unlike other nektonic species that can adapt and move to higher latitudes with warming habitat, if the mussels cease the biological habitat ceases to exist.
By creating more habitat, we can prolong the ecosystem, protect inland areas from future storms and restore the balance of the ocean. It is extremely important to recognize these tiny habitats and keep them in check. If we do not we face the unravelling and the unbalance of ecosystems. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171122093039.htm Researchers from Southern Methodist University discovered the extraordinarily well-preserved fossil leaves from two sites in the Ethiopian Highlands. The fossils were approximately 22-26 million years old. The data collected from the samples indicate the presence of high CO2 levels, knowing that atmospheric CO2 affects the carbon fixation in leaves during photosynthesis. Pairing this information with previously studied ocean temperatures from the same time period confirms the three of greenhouse gasses and atmospheric global temperatures.
The scientific community has been looking for to confirm global warming due to high CO2 emissions. With information around the world from researchers on the effects of rising global temperatures, rising carbonic acid levels in the ocean, progressive bleaching of coral reefs, and extreme weather globally, human intervention is eminent. Raising awareness and proactive changes to decrease CO2 emissions must take place. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171114123256.htm Researchers at the Arc Centre of Excellence for Coral Reefs Studies, have reproduced reef conditions in a laboratory setting. with growing levels of CO2 globally, dissolved CO2 in ocean water is causing OA. Published just last month, the article indicates optimism for the reef's ability to cycle overnight and recalibrate "natural daily changes in concentrations of dissolved CO2". Professor Philip Munday, the article senior author, indicated shallow water reefs are more susceptible to substantial fluctuations in water chemistry. The data from the study suggests that the daily fluctuations in the water's chemistry is enough for the small reef fish to recover, further reducing their sensitivity high CO2 levels.
Continued losses to thecae's costal reef systems could have tremendous impacts on fish nurseries and juvenile populations. Having such a large role in keeping the balance of predator and prey fish cycle in balance. The health of our reef and biological dwellers who make it in their home is extremely important. https://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2017/08/170831091420.htm This article presents facts and figures on a simulated climate control on possible category 5 hurricanes hitting Florida during the ice age between the Younger Dryas and Holocene era. The study conducted by the Geological Society of America, submitted on October 5, 2017, used core samples of ancient turbidite deposition in the southeast United States to assess possible anomalies: anomalies were found indicating quite a bit of hurricane activity. They then used computer models to assess ocean currents, temperatures, and weather. They discovered a slowdown of the currents in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation which then caused hurricane storms in cold water conditions.
Having credible information on ocean currents and the effects to weather could help scientists reach lawmakers and governing bodies all over the world to take note of climate change and implement changes. Knowing that hurricanes can form in cold water situations due to currents, may help then to better understand current conditions and weather predictions: especially after the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. Furthermore, the action of the sampling may implore more research in near shore drilling for historical knowledge and use in predicting and comparing current. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171005125028.htm> This article illustrates the importance of continued monitoring and further research into anthropogenic warming. Just last week Irina Marinov, a study author and assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Earth and Environmental Science in the School of Arts & Sciences, released this article. Within it researchers have observed from past polynyas, the effect on warming sea and atmospheric temperatures. Over the past forty years the gaps have closed but just last year monitoring has uncovered another alarming polynya. These raised temperatures have caused increased precipitation in the lower latitudes, even affecting the Northern Hemisphere climate.
Rising temperatures could affect crop planting and harvesting schedules. Such changes will have adverse effects on the ability to plant cash crops due to saturated ground. Other potential hazards to the inhabitants is what is actually happening now in the Northern Hemisphere’s Atlantic hurricane season. Causing a larger number of hurricanes to develop, with increases in intensity. Further collateral damage from an increased intensity of storms would be property damage, human health concerns and loss of life. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170911122659.htm>. Methylmercury is fond in foods like rice and fish and is harming adults, infants, and young children. They found methylmercury in grain when grown in polluted areas. When these grains are turned in to cereals for consumers to eat they have much higher levels of this chemical than those that are not rice based cereals. These cereals have about 2.28 micro grams of methylmecury per kilogram in each item.
We need to save our infants and their mothers by limiting consumption of these fish and grains in order to reduce their potential exposure. Methylmercury can cause neurological and reproductive problems when eaten by adults. This chemical can also hard younger generations by creating developmental problems. this is a huge risk for those that rely on this crop daily and have nothing else to eat. Climate change seems to affect the survival of every life form on this planet. They are endangering the well being of many animals, including the Menhaden fish. They live off the coast from Maine to Texas. This fish's Average body size has shrunk around 15 percent in the past 65 years.
This fish is said to be the most economically important fish in the ocean. They also make up half of the Alantic's harvest making 129 dollars in 2013. This fish's shrinkage will greatly impact our economy from the loss in money from our harbors. The size of this fish will also affect the food web this fish is involved in. They are a food source for birds, seals, whales, striped bass and other animals. Climate change will slowly begin to affect animals from all different types of habitats. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171004133543.htm In this article, the author talks about how sewage has gotten into main water systems because of the flooding in Texas. There are close to 500 sewage waste plants where Harvey hit and most of them experienced flooding. In addition to sewage overflows around forty industrial plants reported toxic chemical spills into water and the air. Transformers are bursting under water and that causes even more chaos.
There are many very dangerous things that can come from this. One major thing could be death because of the toxins getting into your system. Weather you ingest it or get it into an open wound from wading in it, it has the same harmful effect. The harm behind chemical spills is that it can cause damage like burning your skin and breathing it in can cause you to burn your lungs. PCBs have also been released due to transformers bursting. http://www.environmenttexas.org/news/txe/71-texas-schools-test-positive-lead-drinking-water Bees may soon be in danger of becoming extinct. This is all due to climate change making less flowers for bees to pollinate and quench their hunger. Many of these bee species live in the mountains where the snow melts earlier and extends the flower season. These bees then believe it is time to begin pollinating but there are not enough good flowers to go around. Bees live in annual cycles and have the quickest population affected by the climate change. There is a longer period where bees are living because their cycles are longer but cannot fully thrive because their food supply has decreased.
We can help these bees survive their rough patch by making enough healthy flowers for their colonies to forage and grow from. These flowers our dying because we are causing climate change. If they keep going down this downward slope we will begin to be affected by this. Bees are crucial to our agriculture and our natural plant communities. Without Bees our vegetation will die along with the rest of our fresh produce this valley depends one. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170929093356.htm Civilization has coined the phrase “survival of the fittest” since Darwin invented it. Does this mean we should just make surviving hard for every life to see if they can actually survive? In this article they discuss the hardships of Tit birds in the city. It is extremely hard for these birds to survive in an urbanized area due to the stresses it may encompass, but if they do survive this year they will be able to survive in the city for the rest of their lives. If this happens and they are able to survive they can thank their telomeres for their survival. A Telomere is the extremity of a chromosome and can only expand over time but if stressed will shorten with this birds chance of survival.
It is hard for animals to survive in an urbanized area for many reasons. One of these is due to our strange food. We process most of our food and when an animal sees this they are curious and put it in their mouth. This could make them sick and decrease their chance of survival. These birds are eating our food in shortening their Telomeres. We need to keep our processed food enclosed so that animals are not able to get to it. Another cause of this bird’s death is pollution. We as humans are extremely messy and do not care what we infect with our filth. Humans pollute our streaks, waters, and skies. This hurts the telomeres ability to grow and will shorten their life span. We need to save this bird from extinction and stop throwing our trash on the street and in the ocean. We also need to stop burning fossil fuels and drive electric cars. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170908205442.htm Ghana's water is destroying many lives due to it being highly contaminated. It is being contaminated by many different sources, one being sewage. Sewage plants all over Ghana are not properly treated and poor into the water. Another source of contamination is ship trash. Many ships travel the waters touching Ghana and dump their garbage into the ocean causing it to be highly unsafe for marine life and the shore of Ghana. The final way Ghana is being polluted is by its very own residents throwing their trash recklessly and not being smart about their recycling.
There are many ways they can save themselves from this deep hole they are digging. One way they can fix their pollution is by learning to recycle. By doing this they will decrease their outputs of harmful garbage and also create jobs, boosting the economy. This will also make landfills obsolete and save energy. Driving cars pollutes the air they breathe and if the citizens of Ghana cut back on the amounts of driving they do, they will make their green house gas emission go down. Ghana's air does not just affect them sole but will also spread and contaminate our air and contribute to carbon emission. We need to inform them how to fix this problem and ultimately save ourselves in the meantime by making our air cleaner and marine life safer. https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-committed-to-prevent-marine-pollution-asiamah.html Farmers from all parts of California are being put under copious amounts of stress due to recent water regulations. In this article, Kawamura states, "Overregulation imputing us towards perhaps the greatest water loss ever in California- an average of 1.3 million acre- feet of water each year" (Kawamura). Southern California Water Committee has regulated our water so much that our farms will not be able to produce the same amount of food that we need. Farmers also will not be given large pieces of land to farm on any longer. Furthermore, they will need to increase the prices of their crops making it harder on low income families to buy fresh produce. We need to expand our water holding systems so we are able to cut back on our water regulations and make it easier for farmers to provide produce for tables in every Californians dining room. By doing this we will not need to fallow out farms and spike the prices of produce in California. The author mentions, "They have lost $900 million in wages since 2000 and could lose another $4 billion in wages over the next three decades" (Kawamura). Farmers are forced to increase their prices because they have bills just as every other family does. In order for them to pay their farm hands, keep their lands, and continue producing they are forced to increase their prices or lose it all. Lets save our farmers and take a stand in this soon to be water epidemic. http://www.modbee.com/opinion/state-issues/article157153044.html Hurricane Harvey Creates Toxic Water Hurricane Harvey has posed many threats to the citizens of Texas. One of the toxic threats they have been forced to encounter is explosion of the Arkema Group Chemical Plant. This explosion has contaminated the water all around the plants. Another event that contributes to the waste waters are the industrial sites located all of Texas that are being flooded and also seeping toxins like pesticides into the water. Furthermore, The flood could also move the pipelines in Texas and cause them to burst. Finally, the rising water levels are invading the sewer treatment plants and creating one giant ocean of sewage.
There are many things americans can do to help with this natural disaster. We can donate money to foundations like the Red Cross to help with the clean up and damage control. Many Texans took rescuing stranded survivors into their own hands by using boats and sometimes even walking through the toxic mess to save children an animals. The families over in Texas are being put under the largest test they may face in this decade. They are risking their lives to help one another and clean up the wreckage. This will help prepare Texas for future storms and help the state advance their means of controlling waste. http://time.com/4923245/hurricane-harvey-arkema-group-explosion/ |
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