WHAT S YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OF THE OCEAN?
HERE IS MY MENTAL PICTURE:
HERE IS THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY:
HUMAN IMPACT ON OUR OCEANS 8.11C - Recognize human dependence on ocean systems and explain how human activities such as runoff, artificial reefs, or use of resources have modified these systems.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE OCEAN: The oceans cover 70% of our planet There is only one global ocean, which is geographically divided into the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Southern (Antarctic) Oceans. The boundaries between the five oceans were made over time for a variety of historical, cultural, geographical, and scientific reasons.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE OCEAN OXYGEN SOURCE Most of the oxygen comes from tiny ocean plants called phytoplankton that live near the water s surface and drift with the currents. Like all plants, they photosynthesize Scientists believe that phytoplankton contribute more than 50 percent of the oxygen in Earth s atmosphere.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE OCEAN: Oceans absorb Carbon: The ocean is great at sucking up CO 2 from the air. It absorbs about one-quarter of the CO 2 that we humans create when we burn fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas.) If not for the ocean, we'd be in even worse trouble with too much CO 2. However, the ocean and everything in it are paying a price. The ocean is becoming more acidic. We will talk more about this idea later.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE OCEAN: Food Source: The oceans are one of the world s main sources of protein The types of food are varied and can be plentiful, but not endless.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE OCEAN: Weather, water cycle and stabilizing the uneven heating from the Sun. Interactions of solar and ocean systems create the weather systems necessary to bring precipitation to continents
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE OCEAN: About half of the world s population lives within the coastal zone, and ocean-based businesses contribute more than $500 billion to the world s economy.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE OCEAN: Ecosystems - oceans provide numerous abiotic factors, which are important to maintain marine populations, such as: The amount of sunlight, wave action, water temperature, water pressure, salinity levels ph levels
WHAT WE DON T KNOW https://ed.ted.com/featured/0l9cs5ke
PEOPLE AND OCEANS What do we need, how do we interact with and treat the ocean and it s inhabitants? Do we only take what we need to survive?
WHY IS THE OCEAN SO IMPORTANT?
HUMAN IMPACTS ON OCEANS There are both positive and negative impacts
NEGATIVE HUMAN IMPACTS
Here are a few examples of our impact
OCEAN WARMING Burning fossil fuels and deforestation are contributing to global climate change which impacts ocean warming with a cascade of effects on life on Earth Think about: How is climate change contributing to ocean s problems?
OIL Drilling for oil disturbs and destroys marine habitats Oil Spills are more common than the public knows Oil platforms can become sources of artificial reefs, but risk great harm when spills occur
POLLUTION Human activities include large cities that dump waste, using excess fertilizers and pesticides on lawns and in agriculture that runoff into oceans, and agricultural practices that allow erosion of soil into oceans modify marine ecosystems.
PLASTICS THE NUMBER 1 ENEMY! We are simply too dependent on 1 time use plastic products
THE PROBLEM WITH FASHION? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqkeky5t7ky
POSITIVE HUMAN IMPACTS
POSITIVE HUMAN IMPACTS Repairing what we have damaged Artificial Reefs created when old (cleaned) ships are purposely sunk. Other structures are used too.
POSITIVE IMPACTS Stabilizing barrier reef systems protects coastlines and estuaries from some destruction caused by tropical storms and hurricanes Countries have made protective areas of many reefs and conservation efforts are increasing
INVENTIONS AND HARD WORK Multiple inventions have been made to help clean up pollution from the ocean
INVENTIONS AND HARD WORK People also just roll up their sleeves and help clean up beaches around the world
HELPING TO REBUILD Rebuilding coral reefs that have been bleached and have died A biologist in Florida had an accidental discovery that helped him determine that he could grow coral 25X faster. What this means is that we can re-grow coral that have died because of humans but we cannot replace them all. It isn t a solution, but it is a start!
WHY THE OCEAN? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qojym8jhkfe
IT S OVERWHELMING! The scope is so hard to truly understand Let s focus on understanding just ONE issue The idea is - once you better understand an issue - you can be part of the solution
CARBON, OCEANS AND ACIDITY The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere wherever air meets water. Burning fossil fuels increases the amount of carbon that goes into the oceans. The ocean and everything in it are paying a price. The ocean is becoming more acidic. What does this mean? Liquids are either acid or alkaline. Each liquid falls somewhere along a scale with acid at one end and alkaline at the other.
MORE CARBON = MORE ACIDITY 2 1
WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR PAGE:
NOW TO LEARN EVEN MORE: Ocean acidification