The oceans are so vast and deep that until fairly recently, it was widely assumed that no matter how much trash and chemicals humans dumped into them, the effects would be negligible. Proponents of dumping in the oceans even had a catchphrase: "The solution to pollution is dilution."
Today, we need look no further than the New Jersey-size dead zone that forms each summer in the Mississippi River Delta, or the thousand-mile-wide swath of decomposing plastic in the northern Pacific Ocean to see that this "dilution" policy has helped place a once flourishing ocean ecosystem on the brink of collapse.
Pollution's Many Forms
There is evidence that the oceans have suffered at the hands of mankind for millennia, as far back as Roman times. But recent studies show that degradation, particularly of shoreline areas, has accelerated dramatically in the past three centuries as industrial discharge and runoff from farms and coastal cities has increased.
Pollution is the introduction of harmful contaminants that are outside the norm for a given ecosystem. Common man-made pollutants that reach the ocean include pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, detergents, oil, sewage, plastics, and other solids. Many of these pollutants collect at the ocean's depths, where they are consumed by small marine organisms and introduced into the global food chain. Scientists are even discovering that pharmaceuticals ingested by humans but not fully processed by our bodies are eventually ending up in the fish we eat.
Many ocean pollutants are released into the environment far upstream from coastlines. Nitrogen-rich fertilizers applied by farmers inland, for example, end up in local streams, rivers, and groundwater and are eventually deposited in estuaries, bays, and deltas. These excess nutrients can spawn massive blooms of algae that rob the water of oxygen, leaving areas where little or no marine life can exist. Scientists have counted some 400 such dead zones around the world.
Solid waste like bags, foam, and other items dumped into the oceans from land or by ships at sea are frequently consumed, with often fatal effects, by marine mammals, fish, and birds that mistake it for food. Discarded fishing nets drift for years, ensnaring fish and mammals. In certain regions, ocean currents corral trillions of decomposing plastic items and other trash into gigantic, swirling garbage patches. One in the North Pacific, known as the Pacific Trash Vortex, is estimated to be the size of Texas. A new, massive patch was discovered in the Atlantic Ocean in early 2010.
Noise Pollution
Pollution is not always physical. In large bodies of water, sound waves can carry undiminished for miles. The increased presence of loud or persistent sounds from ships, sonar devices, oil rigs, and even from natural sources like earthquakes can disrupt the migration, communication, hunting, and reproduction patterns of many marine animals, particularly aquatic mammals like whales and dolphins.
End of the "Dilution" Era
Humans are beginning to see the shortsightedness of the "dilution" philosophy. Many national laws as well as international protocols now forbid dumping of harmful materials into the ocean, although enforcement can often be spotty. Marine sanctuaries are being created to maintain pristine ocean ecosystems. And isolated efforts to restore estuaries and bays have met with some success.
Today, we need look no further than the New Jersey-size dead zone that forms each summer in the Mississippi River Delta, or the thousand-mile-wide swath of decomposing plastic in the northern Pacific Ocean to see that this "dilution" policy has helped place a once flourishing ocean ecosystem on the brink of collapse.
Pollution's Many Forms
There is evidence that the oceans have suffered at the hands of mankind for millennia, as far back as Roman times. But recent studies show that degradation, particularly of shoreline areas, has accelerated dramatically in the past three centuries as industrial discharge and runoff from farms and coastal cities has increased.
Pollution is the introduction of harmful contaminants that are outside the norm for a given ecosystem. Common man-made pollutants that reach the ocean include pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, detergents, oil, sewage, plastics, and other solids. Many of these pollutants collect at the ocean's depths, where they are consumed by small marine organisms and introduced into the global food chain. Scientists are even discovering that pharmaceuticals ingested by humans but not fully processed by our bodies are eventually ending up in the fish we eat.
Many ocean pollutants are released into the environment far upstream from coastlines. Nitrogen-rich fertilizers applied by farmers inland, for example, end up in local streams, rivers, and groundwater and are eventually deposited in estuaries, bays, and deltas. These excess nutrients can spawn massive blooms of algae that rob the water of oxygen, leaving areas where little or no marine life can exist. Scientists have counted some 400 such dead zones around the world.
Solid waste like bags, foam, and other items dumped into the oceans from land or by ships at sea are frequently consumed, with often fatal effects, by marine mammals, fish, and birds that mistake it for food. Discarded fishing nets drift for years, ensnaring fish and mammals. In certain regions, ocean currents corral trillions of decomposing plastic items and other trash into gigantic, swirling garbage patches. One in the North Pacific, known as the Pacific Trash Vortex, is estimated to be the size of Texas. A new, massive patch was discovered in the Atlantic Ocean in early 2010.
Noise Pollution
Pollution is not always physical. In large bodies of water, sound waves can carry undiminished for miles. The increased presence of loud or persistent sounds from ships, sonar devices, oil rigs, and even from natural sources like earthquakes can disrupt the migration, communication, hunting, and reproduction patterns of many marine animals, particularly aquatic mammals like whales and dolphins.
End of the "Dilution" Era
Humans are beginning to see the shortsightedness of the "dilution" philosophy. Many national laws as well as international protocols now forbid dumping of harmful materials into the ocean, although enforcement can often be spotty. Marine sanctuaries are being created to maintain pristine ocean ecosystems. And isolated efforts to restore estuaries and bays have met with some success.
Humans should reduce the level of consumption and production of modern activities, as due to large industries, the products of daily use and their current lifestyle, generate extensive damage directly and indirectly to the natural ecosystem of the planet. The oceans are one of the great reservoirs of liquid water on the planet, are the home to billions of organisms that make possible the development of life on earth. In the tropics the chemical pollution of the seas and oceans alters the cycle of formation of storms, due the presence of chlorine, acid rain generated that kill crops and cause terrible damage to the plant life of middle latitudes.
ResponderEliminarVenezuela has not escaped the effects of marine pollution, a great example of this is Lake Maracaibo (Zulia state), over the years. the oil industry in the region has led to different problems such as duckweed or "Lemna", an aquatic plant that grows in environments rich in nitrogen, which has covered a high percentage of the lake shores, attacking marine life there lives and against the welfare of all citizens and the salinization, which by the entry of seawater into the lake, has caused damage to plants and wildlife of this.
ResponderEliminarYou can continue reading about the topic in the following link
http://www.businessweek.com/2000/00_51/c3712238.htm
Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.
ResponderEliminarhumanity over the years, has forgotten natural resources by locking himself in thinking and their benefits, their interests, their needs, which achieve adquidir by any means, which has allowed consciously or unconsciously, by acts without consideration, it will pollute our waters, oceans, home to many animals die every day and not just the food chain that governs the world, if not by pollutants that are deposited into the sea by different pathways leading to to fish, mammals and birds confuse it with food. Remember that this series of events has been increasing to over the years, may harm humanity itself, that from the geographical point of view will be significantly affected by acid rain brought from the sea by the easterly winds mainly in addition to evidence that the ecosystem changes dramatically due to the extinction of many marine species unable to live in their habitat. So it is recommended awareness, caring for the planet, as far as possible to live on a planet clean and nice setting.
ResponderEliminarnot only the physical and acoustic factors affect this problem, also geographic elements as the oceanic currents transport these remainders towards other seas extending therefore the contaminated area. of there the importance of the care of the water, since when this loses its balance, therefore it affected other processes like the important hydrologic cycle, which maintains in balance the humidity in the atmosphere and the water in the Earth. not only the zone is due to isolate, is due to deal with new mechanisms of purification of the water.
ResponderEliminaryou can check this link for more information of the mechanism of purification of water:
http://www.lareserva.com/home/como_purificar_agua_sodis
From my viewpoint , pollution of the oceans should be decreased. the sea water is not sure for human consuption, but in the sea is the largest reserve of food, because in the oceans live millions of marine species, that could die due to the introduction in the ecosystem of different contaminants.
ResponderEliminarIn Venezuela, it must be very careful with the petroleum production, because if this falls into the sea, could cause irreversible damage to marine species that live there, after, clean the sea water with different chemical and machines, can be effective but not effective.
if the people is contaminating the water, the future will be contaminated
The Pollution of the seas is a problem caused by much, and suffered for all, the rapid population growth, industrial activities makes the problem grow faster than the solutions, it is important to raise awareness so that all work together somehow to good solid waste management, recycling and what we consider a serious damage to our planet could grow into alternative raw materials or new energy solutions to the nations. Whatever pollution is attributed to large-scale industrial activities, but if we start to work from our homes will surely be of great contribution.
ResponderEliminarHere I share with you a link that shows alarming images of industriales landscapes where we can see how the descontrol exploitation y may affect ecosystems.
http://www.lapatilla.com/site/2011/10/15/increibles-paisajes-industriales-fotos-asombrosas/
The contamination is a serious problem that affects all countries of the world. In Venezuela, pollution has affected various ecosystems like the already mentioned Lake Maracaibo and the Caroni and Orinoco rivers that have been contaminated by mercury spilled by the illegal gold extraction companies. For this reason, I think it is critical that safety regulations and campaigns of concientizacion and information in the populations affected by the diverse types of pollution be implemented, so that these people know how they can denounce those who harm ecosystems near their homes.
ResponderEliminarin my opinion, I think that industrialized countries should create more agreements and protocols to force big companies to reduce production of pollutants in the ocean, which causes problems as we have seen irreparable ecosystems, affecting both humans and animals and plants. But drastic action is taken on the emission of these pollutants, in a period of time, the oceans pollution reached such high levels that marine animals can not exist, consequently resulting, for example, problems in the production of fish to be consumed by humans
ResponderEliminarIf we continue with our lifestyle which is excessively wasteful and carefree, we will ultimately end up with all the resources, habitats and species that make our planet so special and beautiful, leaving only wreckage and misery for future generations which may not enjoy all the benefits and wonders that we have enjoyed and continue to destroy indifferently. This is why it becomes necessary to change our lifestyle, which can be achieved with simple actions in our habits that will help to maintain and gradually improve the health and beauty of our planet.
ResponderEliminarThrough the years the the amount of pollutants has increase and any big and industrialized country had a serious law to counteract this problem. I think that in these big countries has to be created a state policy that controled the pollutants that fall to the seas. We have to think that this pollutants can affect our lives and the animals that live in the oceans.
ResponderEliminarbrought with it pollution to different species of plants and animals become extinct as a result of the pollutants are dumped into the oceans. these pollutants are not diluted at all and what they do is degrade the environment. by the ambition of being human to meet their needs.
ResponderEliminarOur planet is made up of a number of factors and elements that are interrelated and if one is disturbed likely to affect others. It is therefore essential to prevent, maintain and care for our environment because our existence depends on it. It is unfortunate the state in which our seas and oceans are where the major pollutants has been the excessive influence of the man, in June 8, 2011 At the World Oceans Day, the UN urged governments to manage resources sustainably. Here is the article on the results of the convention earlier this year.
ResponderEliminarhttp://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/oceans/2011/Greenpeace_briefing_UNGA_Ocean_Resolution_final.pdf
KARLA MARCANO:
ResponderEliminarThe issue of contamination is alarming, due to the different situations we are experiencing, is a question that we are aware and help the planet, not just your region, because the problem is not one place, but to a large extent of the world .
pollution reaching the sea begins as air pollution but then eventually falls into the oceans.
every corner of the oceans has been damaged in some way by human activity and about 41% of its waters are seriously affected.
In the deep ocean is, at this time, tens of thousands of barrels of substances such as plutonium, cesium and mercury, the result of decades of use of the ocean as a dumping ground for large quantities of waste.
Excess nutrients cause eutrophication in large sea areas. At the mouth of the Mississippi, has lost much of its wildlife as a result of continued nutrient enrichment by excessive algae growth and oxygen depletion caused by putrefaction of these algae.
The coastal areas are polluted by waste. Oysters and fish are disappearing. Floating islands of trash the size of small states it used to be stagnant water. Birds and whales are struck by ships leaving a trail of oil and debris in its path. But the biggest damage is that of climate change.
The oceans are becoming more acidic by absorbing carbon dioxide, and plants are being affected by increased ultraviolet radiation.
The boat traffic is the third biggest culprit for pollution.So we are aware to help our planet, not to continue to decline as we are doing now.
-www.tecnun.es/asignaturas/Ecologia.
-maresyoceanos.blogspot.com/.../los-ocanos-y-mares-estan-casi-todos.html -
Personally I think that to solve the problem of pollution in the oceans is necessary to apply laws that criminalize the sea pouring solid waste such as plastics, liquids and chemicals. Naturally the man when he is accustomed to a pattern hardly stops behaving that way, however, when forced or otherwise induced or threatened is more likely to have access to change certain behaviors, by which I that by implementing policies that affect one way or another lifestyle, it will be obliged to do just to keep their personal welfare. In Europe there are strong penalties for those who waste water in summer time, people in those locations and automatically assume that this season can not exceed their water use to limit or be severely punished. I think that you can create similar laws regulating the use of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals, including for landfill and industrial wastewater into the ocean, thus retain only the beautiful scenery we have under our water q, q landscape many do not know but that are so important to marine biotic development.
ResponderEliminarJean Garcia's comment....
ResponderEliminarThe progress and the rapid process of urbanization and industrialization have resulted in human endeavor that generates a very large impact on the environment. One of the most affected natural resources has been the air. As in nature there is a close interdependence between its components, to pollute the air the other elements are afectados.La tambn vegetation, for example, adversely affected the process of growth and reproduction. They can emphasize the importance of promoting nature conservation on a large scale.
Water is the non-renewable natural resource of major importance in the world, not only for man but also for all life forms that inhabit this planet. Water is be exploited and polluted which leaves us with less and less of this precious resource to use. By this resource as being essential for life and for being a non-renewable resource which begins to disappear in its usable form, we should wake up and start using it in a sustainable way to prevent it disappears. Below shows the links of a page from the UK on this topic
ResponderEliminarhttp://www.water-pollution.org.uk/
Plastic is not biodegradable. Most of the plastic dumped at sea washes up on our beaches where birds, fish, and other marine life encounter it. Every year, thousands of fish, birds and even sea lions die with six pack holders around their necks and bodies, or entangled in plastic fishing line and netting. Some animals eat plastic, which makes them feel full while they slowly starve to death.
ResponderEliminarPlastic debris in the water can cause life-threatening situations for boaters, too. Plastic items foul propellers and clog engine intake systems, resulting in disabled vessels, as well as expensive repairs and lost time.
In my opinion can be considered not only the pollution and garbage littering the oceans, but people should be aware, the owners of industrial, oil or any thus that one way or another cause such damage the environment, degrades not only temporarily, but is a consequence that the future harm us all, not only causing damage to marine species but also to consumers of foods like fish among others. Importantly, waste pollution is harmful to the ecosystem of the ocean, but pollution in this place not only in this way also reflects the sound of ships, earthquakes among others, cause severe damage to what would be the migration of species that live there.
ResponderEliminar