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/ |
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