Ocean Garbage
Veronica and Ivy Per:7
Fun facts
- average person generates 4.5 pounds of trash every day
- -about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year
- about 75% of solid waste is recyclable
- only about 30% is actually recycled
- every year Americans use approximately 102.1 billion plastic bags
- 38,000 of ribbon is thrown away each year, that is enough to tie a bow around the whole earth
Ocean Trash Plaguing Our Sea
The garbage patches in the ocean aren't islands that you can walk on like most people think. But it doesn't mean there isn't anything to worry about. Marine debris affects coastlines and water around the world. Animals can be drowned, cut, or slowed down from certain trash that accumulates in the ocean. Habitats can be destroyed and animals can be hurt. Birds mistake the tiny plastic particles for plankton, fish eggs, or other foods. Chicks die from their parents feeding them bottle caps, and cigarette liters, or parts of plastic bags. This is no issue to ignore.
Huge Garbage Patch Found In Atlantic Too
There is a new discovered patch of garbage that covers about 22 and 38 degrees North latitude. This is about the distance from Cuba to Virginia. Very small bits of trash weighing less than a tenth of a paper clip make up most of the plastic in the path. Students from the Geophysical Union found 520,000 bits of trash per square mile. Although, it is only part of the amount of plastic, waves will carry the plastic 65 feet below the surface. There is a lot of plastic, but not so much that you could walk across the ocean's surface.
Science Our Rubbish Has Become A New Ocean Ecosystem Called 'The Plastisphere'
Much of the pollution we produce are destroying many ecosystems, but the pollution we give off also creates new ecosystems. Many of the plastics that we mindlessly throwaway, often becomes inhabited by microbes and insects who live in the ocean. The piece of plastic generally cannot visibly be seen but much of it is completely remaking the oceans.
http://tinyurl.com/lejpmfo
http://tinyurl.com/lejpmfo
Plastic in paradise: Hawaii’s tsunami of debris
The beautiful waters of Hawaii lure many tourist in hopes of seeing paradise. But much debris has washed up to shore from the 2011 tsunami. A few locals and the NOAA program came together as one to keep the ocean and the beaches of Hawaii clean.
http://tinyurl.com/p2z4qfz
http://tinyurl.com/p2z4qfz
Fish Facts: The problem with plastic
Plastic fill about eighty percent of garbage population in the ocean, many of these small bundles are out of sight in the middle of the ocean but does not mean they should be out of mind. Because of these microscopical plastic particles that are not biodegradable, there is a more plastic than plankton. Which have been effecting the population of planktonic eating fish.
http://tinyurl.com/lszuxbx
http://tinyurl.com/lszuxbx
Scientists focus on harbor seals as 'samplers of the environment'
Scientist have been keeping a friendly eye on seals and sea lions, they noticed that many of them have died and washed up along shore. Scientist believe that it could be the pollution that the fish have accidentally consumed is reasoning behind why seals and sea lions have become ill. "The environment is changing and we should be aware of those changes."
http://tinyurl.com/q4cdggi
http://tinyurl.com/q4cdggi
Dangerous Debri
Most of the common trash that humans produce and litter the world with, can be the most dangerous in the sea. Animals are the ones affected by our garbage and many die from the affects that our trash has on them. A lot of the plastic in the ocean lasts for years and is very harmful to the wild life. Every year millions of animals die from the waste in the ocean. Balloons block digestive systems, and turtles and fish get caught in nets. This isn't only just harmful to animals but to humans too. The garbage can carry toxic chemicals and infectious diseases.
http://see-the-sea.org/topics/pollution/debris/dangerous_debris.htm
http://see-the-sea.org/topics/pollution/debris/dangerous_debris.htm
What can you do to reduce marine pollution
While a bunch of animals die every year and there is a lot of pollution in the ocean you can do something about it! 70 percent of the garbage in the oceans come from the land which means that humans need to become more aware on how to eliminate unwanted house hold items. Recycling is very affective and can save so much plastic that ends up at the bottom of the ocean. Another way to help the ocean is to make sure that only rain goes down the storm water drain.
http://tinyurl.com/oky9vpu
http://tinyurl.com/oky9vpu