Ocean pollution Flashcards
What is point source pollution?
The release of pollutants from a single, clearly identifiable location
What is non point pollution?
Pollution released from several disposable origins such as exhaust fumes from a ships engine
How many cargos are there and how much sulphur do they emit every year?
90,000-100,000 cargos operating 280 days a year, emitting 5000tonnes of sulphur a year
How much of annual sulphur emissions are sea transport responsible for?
9%
What are algal blooms?
Pollutants such as nitrates and phosphates create a rich soup of nutrients which stimulate algae growth
How does the ocean become full of radio active waste?
-people dispose of nuclear waste there
-eight nuclear submarines have sunk which release material
How much waste are humans disposing a year?
20billion tonnes
What domestic pollution is in ocean?
-sewage containing faeces, urine and laundry waste
What does unwanted sewage do?
Promotes growth of pathogens which are disease producing organsims
What is eutrophication?
Excessive richness of nutrients in a lake, frequently due to run of from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life
What happened in Japans Fukushima nuclear plant?
Leaked substantial quantities of radioactive material following damage cause by tsunami. It got into food chain so strict ban on catching and consumption of fish.
