Oceans Flashcards
Why are oceans so important
Humans are interconnected with ocean - provide water, oxygen, weather, food, minerals, and resources
Allow for transport and habitat for 80% of life on Earth
Oceans are under threat due to extraction of resources, dump waste and destring them
What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The garbage patch is an area of marine debris concentration in the North Pacific Ocean.
How big is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
covers an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers, an area twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France.
How much plastic is the oceans
79000 tonnes of floating debris
What is a gyre
Gyres are large-scale circular oceanic currents. They are driven primarily by the global wind patterns and the Coriolis effect, Gyres form as the wind drags water along, causing the surface currents to move in a circular pattern.
Evaluate the properties of plastic and identify the issues associated with plastic in our oceans.
Breakdown: Plastic breaks into microplastics but doesn’t fully decompose, causing long-term pollution.
Impact: Harms marine life, disrupts ecosystems, and can enter the food chain.
Explain how plastic accumulates in our oceans.
Sources: Plastic enters oceans through rivers, beaches, storm drains, and littering.
Transport: Currents and winds carry plastic debris across the globe.
Accumulation: Plastic collects in large areas like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch due to ocean currents (gyres).
Ø Analyse strategies to address ocean plastics.
Prevention: Bans on single-use plastics, promoting recycling, and increasing consumer awareness.
Improved Waste Management: Better recycling systems, enhanced waste collection, and supporting a circular economy.
Cleanup Efforts: Ocean cleanup technologies and community beach cleanups.
Innovation: Development of biodegradable plastics and sustainable alternatives.
Global Cooperation: International agreements and collaborations among governments, NGOs, and businesses.
How can gyres be used to explain plastic concentrations in ocean
Gyres are vast rotating ocean current systems that trap debris in their circular flow. Once plastic enters a gyre, it accumulates in the center, forming large patches like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Plastics break down into microplastics but rarely degrade, posing a persistent environmental threat.
