Geography: Marine population/ oceans

• What is a ocean current

  Movement of water from one region to another to effectively interconnect the worlds oceans and seas.
• What do ocean currents transport

  Heat oxygen carbon dioxide salts nutrients creatures sediments
• What is the driving force behind surface currents?

  Wind blowing over the surface on the top 400 meters of the ocean.
• What factor influences the direction surface currents take

  The Coriolis force: deflects currents into large circular patterns called gyres. Flows left to south hemi and right into North hemi
• How are deep water currents formed?

  Thermohaline circulation: the difference in temperature and saltinty levels, affecting the density. Warm water from the equator is moved by surface currents towards the poles. As it moves it gradually cools, becoming dense due to increase in salinity levels.
• What is the global ocean conveyor belt

  System of interconnected ocean currents that circulate water around the world's oceans. Driven by differences in temperature and salinity, affecting the density.
• What is thr pattern of deep sea currents

  Equaters' warm waters move to higher latitude lose heat. Becomes colder and denser. Sinks and flows as ocean currents towards equator
• Why is the global conveyor belt important

  Regulates earth's climate by distributing heat around the globe. Transports nutrients and oxygen to different parts influencing ecosystems and weather patterns
• What are upwelling 


  Movement of cold water currents from deep sea to surface. Brings nutrients from deep ocean
• What are downscaling

  Downward Movement of surface water into deeper ocean. Helps dispute heat gas and nutrients in the water
• In which oceans are the 5 main gyres located

  North Alantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, south Pacific, Indian
• What is marine pollution

  Introduction of harmful substances or products into the ocean from either accidental or deliberate discharge of man made pollutants
• Examples of marine pollution

  Fertilisers, chemicals, sewage, plastics
• What is marine debris

  Litter and solid materials that are discarded in the marine environments.
• How is marine debris distributed

  Accumulates in oceans due to buoyancy, wind, surface currents
• How does marine debris break down

  Degraded into microplastics into 3000 meters deep
• What are ghost nets

  Lost or discarded fishing gear drifting in oceans, posing threats to wildlife. Trap and entangle marine creatures. Get lost due to bad weather, sea conditions, vandalism, irresponsible fishing practise
• Environmental impacts of marine pollution

  Ingestion of miscroplastics leading to toxins released and ecosystem disruption

  Fishing industries affected by debris entanglement loss of revenue
• How is the great garbage patch formed

  Discarded waste from the east coast of Asia and west coast of US gets swept up in North Pacific gyre
• Main sources of marine oil pollution

  Effluent, atmosphere drilling rigs

  Shipping

  Tanker disasters

  Natural resources

  Undefined
• What happens when oil is released into the waters

  1. Immediately forms large slicks that float on the surface
  2. Weathering by wind and waves breaks down slicks into narrow bands
  3. Some evaporate, sink or are chemically broken down by sunlight or bacteria
  4. Solidifies into tall bars which are more resistant to bacterial decomposition
• How does oil impact the coastline 


  Coastlines that are long, sheltered and sandy are more vulnerable. Oil soaks into sand dying off plants. Increase increase of coastal erosion
• Oil impact on wildlife 


  Birds diving for food get oil on wings. Impact waterproofing and insulation. Ingesting oil poisions. Increases reproduction impacts and birth defects
• Why is there no single solution for oil spills

  Conditions would vary from site to site depending on size, weather, and other factors. Costs and time need to be taken into account as well as availability of material, equipment, and experienced people to supervise.
• How quickly can oil spread

  10 minutes for 1 ton to disperse over a radius of 50m and 10m thick
• Why is the gulf of Mexico famous

  Rich in natural resources, oil. 4000 offshore drilling activities, witnessed world's second biggest oil spill
• What was the deepwater incident

  Explosion on the deep-water horizon drilling platform. Resulted in the sinking of the rig. Oil began leaking into the gulf over 2000 meters below the surface
• What was the risk of the ocean currents on the horizon incident

  Risk of oil being caught in the gulf loop current feeding in the gulf stream current. Affect extensive wetlands and important tourist beaches
• Environmental impacts on the drilling Explosion

  Reached louisiana wetlands and florida coastline. Damage to wildlife including turtles, dolphins, birds long term consequences
• How the drilling Explosion got cleaned up

  Various methods: booms, burning, bioremedation, manual, dispersant. Significant portion belived to have stayed in deep ocean
• Local actions when dealing with marine pollution

  Communities:

  Numerous organisations (clean up the world) are dedicated to improving our marine environments

  Fishers:

  Collaborated to collect all lotter caught in nets to be brought back for managing. Containers to deposit fishing lines

  Reducing personal footprint:

  Use reusable items (cups, cloth bags, glass reusable bottles)

  Refuse single use items

  Reduce every day plastic
• National action when dealing with marine pollution

  2017, 173 counties signed a US resolution to eliminate atic pollution
• Why does the Gulf of Carpenter's have a ghost net problem

  Originating from the Afafura Sea (important fishing ground). South East trade winds and North West monsoon winds creat a circular gyre pattern allowing the build up of ghost nets.
• • photodegradation


  the process where materials degrade or break down due to exposure to sunlight. Plays significant role in weathering process of spilled oil
• Three reasons why the global conveyor belt is important

  1: Climate regulation: helps distribute heat around the Earth, moderating temperatures to influence weather patterns and climate systems globally.

  2: Nutrient Transport: Transports nutrients throughout the ocean, supporting marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

  3: Balances oxygen levels:: Moves oxygen rich water from the surface to deeper parts of the ocean, providing it for deep sea creatures.
• Where is the GOGP and how does it form?????

  The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a vast accumulation of marine debris, located in the North Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and California. Forms as a result of interactions between ocean currents, wind patterns, and human activity.
• What happens to the GOCB if greenland melted?

  • could disrupt the density-driven circulation patterns that drive the conveyor belt, and slow down or even stop the sinking process.
  • water from ice sheet is less saline, meaning disruption in Themohaline circulation
  • affecting the climate
• what is biodegradeable and bioremindation

  something can break down into natural materials in the environment over time, usually with the help of bacteria or other living organisms

  is a process that uses microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or plants, to break down or neutralize contaminants in the environment.
• Sources from the land, sea and atmosphere

  land: agriculture practices: Pesticides and fertilizers runoff the land during rainfall leading to water pollution.

  Sea: Marine transportation: Oil spills from ships, dumping of waste contribute to sea pollution.

  atmosphere: Industrial emissions: Smoke, gases, released during manufacturing processes contribute to air pollution.
• where are ghosts nets found?

  near costal regions. Northern Australia, particularly in the Gulf of Carpentaria, origintating from south east Asia