Hawaii's Sticky SItuation
Molasses Spill In Honolulu Harbor Causes Debt for Hawaii
Summary
Matson Company
Although Matson was unaware of the section of piping that bursted they take full responsibility, along with the responsibility Matson has to pay 25,000 $ each day molasses in the harbor. Matson is a cargo vessel right in the harbor making it a sticky situation unless extra precautions are taken to make sure another spill will not happen.
Sea Life Dead
Diffusion and Osmosis
When the pipe bursted in Hawaii diffusion of molasses spread throughout the harbor.
Osmosis- Active Transport occurs usually the molecules are in semipermable membrane and the molecules are trying to equalize each other.
In the fishes bodies osmosis occurs although when the molasses flows through there bodies and it kills there cells therefor killing them.
Semipermable Membrane and Passive Transport
Facts
•Confirmed to be the cause of mass coral bleaching and death as well.
•Robert Richmond, University of Hawaii marine biology professor and director of Kewalo Marine Laboratory, told reporters that evidence of coral death was present not only within the harbor but also in the waters beyond it.
• Keoni Erickson, a tuna boat captain, told Oahu TV station KITV,, "I've never seen the tilapia dies, because they're survivors. So if they're dying, something is wrong."
•33,000-gallon spilled into the harbor.
•Molasses isn't toxic. But when this much of it surges into the sea, it can boost algae populations that rob the water of oxygen.
•Dead fish and coral are a nightmare for Hawaii's ocean-centric economy, and the specter of toxic algae blooms doesn't bode well for tourism at Waikiki beaches.
Vocabulary
The coral reef is dying because of all the molasses.
Crustaceans- An arthropod of the large, mainly aquatic group Crustacea, such as a crab, lobster, shrimp, or barnacle. Crabs, Lobster, Shrimp...etc.
The crustaceans in the water when the molasses spill occurred killed all of them.
Erosion- To wear down something naturally by wind, water or other natural things.
The molasses is eroding the coral reefs and killing them.
Byproduct- Something produced in the making of something else.
Molasses is a byproduct because it serves as a cooking ingredient but in this situation it was turned into a deadly environment hazard.
Questions
•How is the molasses not in other areas of the ocean?
•How are they planning to restore the ocean wildlife in that area?