oceans 2.2.10 to be continued Flashcards
What is the main source that causes ocean pollution
Run off from the land (terrestrial run of)
What pollutants from that land can end up in the oceans name all 5
- Nitrates from farming
- Sediment causes turbid water (not ideal when it settles on coral reefs)
- Sewage release- toxins and excessive nutrients
- Heavy metals and chemicals released- toxins introduced into food chains
- Plastics- blown or washed into rivers
what happens to pollutants when they go into the sea
either D or C
Either Disperse or Concentrate
what is the impact of pollutants on the coral reefs
The pollutants change the chemical makeup of the water, leading to sun being blocked out from the reef
explain the eutrophication process in 5 points
- nitrate fertilisers are carried off land and into rivers
- rivers wash the nutrients into the sea, making it rich in nutrients
- An algal bloom forms due to the nitrates
- The bloom deprives the water of oxygen, so fish ect suffocate
- This leads to the ecosystems collapsing as dead zones form
In terms of marine dead zones what are they also known as
Hypoxic (low oxygen) areas
Where is the main place dead zones are located
what river does it run off into
what % of water ect drains into this river
In the gulf of Mexico because of terrestrial run off into the Mississippi because 40% of US water drains into this river- including fertilizers, sewage
how many million tons of nutrients is deposited into the gulf of Mexico every year
1.7 mill nutrients are deposited each year
What is the other main source of pollutants into the sea other than terrestrial run off
Oil Spills
Deposited from ships, what other pollutants is thrown into the sea
what will happen do these pollutants
- waste
- washing out oil tankers
- accidental spills
- deposited dredging material (heavy metals)
They will either disperse or be concentrated through the food web
What are the 2 examples of oil spills that were colossal
Gulf war oil spill 1991
Deep water Horizon
Explain what happened in the gulf war oil spill in 1991
In the Persian gulf a war between Iraq and US
The Iraqi forces intentionally opened their oil valves and emptied out 240 million gallons of crude oil, as a military tactic, and tried to blame it on the US
What were the effects of the Gulf war oil spill in 1991
The effect on marine life was extensive and is the worst ever oil spill recorded, where it still has effects today 34 years later
explain what happen in the deep water horizon oil spill in the gulf of mexico 2010
what were the effects
The deep water horizon is a vessel that drills for oil
200 million gallons of crude oil was spilled into gulf of mexico
12,000 barrels a day for 3 months, due to cap of the well exploding
8,000 animals reported dead 6 months after
What are the general effects of oil spills
what does water and crude oil create
Water and crude oil creates ‘mousse’ which sticks to fur and feathers of animals, which restricts them and it breaks down their fur causing the animals such as seals to suffer from hypothermia
- any ingestion of the toxins leads to increased amounts going up the food chain, resulting in production of babies less successful (thinner egg shells in birds and reptiles)
