Oceans

Question 1

El Nino (ENSO, “Boy Child”)

Answer 1

Large-scale warming of ocean surface waters; occurs periodically in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Results in temporary alteration of the patterns of circulation in the ocean and atmosphere

Typically occurs before Christmas and continues for 1-2 years

Reverses the direction of circulation patterns in the ocean and atmosphere

Effects: nutrients from deep waters do not surface, resulting in small fish deaths; severe weather occurs in many areas of the world (ice storms, heavy snowfall, heavy rain, torrential storms, droughts)

Question 2

La Nina (“Girl Child”)

Answer 2

Generally occurs after an ENSO

Ocean surface water becomes cooler and winds become stronger (Pacific Ocean)

Effects: difficult to predict

Question 3

Gyres

Answer 3

A large system of rotating ocean currents typically involved with large wind movements

Winds create circular ocean currents, which result in gyres

Northern Hemisphere: Clockwise flow
Southern Hemisphere: Counter-clockwise flow

Effects: impacts hurricanes, cold weather; influences climate for local areas

Question 4

Bycatch

Answer 4

Unintentional catching of undesired species while desiring to catch target species and target sizes of these species; constituted by target species and target sizes

Bycatch is either a different species or is undersized (juveniles) of the target species

Question 5

Coral Reefs

Answer 5

An underwater ecosystem characterized by corals that build reefs

These reefs are formed by colonies of coral polyps that are held together by calcium carbonate

Problems: 1/4 of the worlds coral reefs are at risk; silt washing down smothers reefs; higher salinity resulting in reef deaths; overfishing; damage from scuba divers; pollution from ocean dumping; oil spills; fishing with dynamite; coral bleaching from increasing acidity and temperatures; hurricane damage; tourism damage; mining of reefs; climate change

Question 6

Aquaculture

Answer 6

Farming of aquatic organisms that involves cultivating aquatic populations under controlled conditions

Problems: fish are concentrated in small areas, which leads to generation of mass waste, resulting in pollution in this area; may lead to loss of wild fish populations/biological diversity (farmed fish are usually carnivorous and will eat other wild fish); fear of gene cross over/transfer with wild populations of fish from GM fish; can disrupt the natural ecosystem; fears of disease spread