Marine pollution Flashcards
disadvantages of plastic waste
If it is incinerated releases co2 to atmosphere. Plastic makes up 80 percent of all marine debris. Plastic waste damages the value of tourist destinations. Plastic is accumulation in ocean gyres. 14 million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans.
1 million sea birds and 100000 sea mammals killed by plastic a year
Different types of pollution
Radioactivity - Fukushima fallout in 2011 - no fishing allowed fish with unnatural levels of caesium
Heavy metals - Guangdong province heavy metals entered ocean - toxic to aquatic organisms
What are the patterns of ocean pollution
80 percent debris is rubbish 20 percent is discarded fishing gear 1992 28000rubber ducks were lost at sea. Most washed up on GB 15 years later
Deepwater oil spill
20 April 2010
13 people died 17 injured
4.9 million barrels of oil leaked into the ocean
Oil gushed out of the drill for 3 months
20-30 years for wildlife to recover
Impacts of Deepwater Horizon spill
Nerfed mexicos and USA fishing and tourism industries
510 km of Louisiana coast affected
Louisiana produces over 18 million crab in 2008 oil can cover their gills and cause respiratory problems
nine species of dolphin at risk
Bluefin tuna declined to less than 20 percent of their 1970 population. By november 2010 6800 dead animals had been reported
shark nurseries infected tiger shark at risk
1 billion in damages
167000 turtles killed
Great Pacific garbage patch
Water from West Coast of NA to Japan 1.6 million km ^2
Loggerhead turtles mistake the plastic bags for jellyfish
at least 79000 tonnes of plastic
How has plastic been managed
175 nations signed the international plastics treaty to stop plastic from entering the ocean.
Exxon Valdeez case study
40 miles of water covered in oil after ship ran aground and punctured hull. Category 4 force storm caused the 11 million gallons of oil to be dispersed across Alaska
800 miles of beach affected
500000 birds and 3000 otter affected by oil. After the oil had reached 2 miles wide and 4 miles long only then did a team begin clean up 2 hours after
Response of deep water horizon
48000 people involved with clean up
2500 miles of boom to stop oil from spreading quickly
6500 vessels
BP spent 14 billion USD on the clean up
Oil dispersant Corexit was used found its way into marine life
