Ocean Water Resources Challenges
Oceans cover about 70 percent of the earth's surface, so any negative environmental impacts pose potentially global effects The salinity of seawater determines what species can inhabit marine environments. The physiology of the plants and animals that populate oceans reflects these adaptations. Many challenges face ocean water resources including to the plant and animal life. Challenges exist on many fronts including political and economic, as well as environmental. Moreover, solutions to these challenges are equally as complex.
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Climate Change
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One of the primary threats to ocean water resources is climate change. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), sea levels along the U.S. coastline have risen five to six inches more than the global average during the 20th century. One potential impact is the loss of wetlands. Coastal wetlands filter water entering oceans along the shore. As sea levels rise, these wetlands are lost. Ocean water resources become more vulnerable to water pollution with the loss of the filtering actions of these ecosystems.
Human Use
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Human use of ocean water resources carries many environmental risks. For example, even a single gallon of oil entering ocean waters can have profound impacts, potentially polluting up to 150,000 gallons of water according to the Air and Waste Management Association. Yet, a study by the International Tank Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) found that between the years 2000 to 2004, an average of 15,800 tons of oil entered ocean waters.
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Types
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Other sources and potential impacts present challenges. Greenhouse gas emissions can increase the acidity of ocean waters, negatively affecting the plants and animals. Coral reefs are also threatened. Disruptions in the food chain can have further impacts on water chemistry and the availability of dissolved oxygen.
Biodiversity
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Despite all the environmental challenges, oceans teem with plant and animal life. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), nearly 50 percent of all plant and animal species live in marine habitats. Yet, over 30 percent of the oceans' sharks and rays are threatened or endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The loss of these predators through extinction can cause population explosions of animals lower in the food chain, which can strain the availability of food and habitat resources.
Solution
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Many lessons were learned after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Tankers are now double-hulled to help prevent oil spills from accidents. The ITOPF reports that large oil spills have declined since the 1970s. However, while industrial accidents are fewer in number, oil or other pollutants continue to enter ocean waters from careless or ignorant citizens. Instead of properly disposing of used engine oil, people changing their own may pour the used substance down the drain. Oil may accidentally be spilled on driveways and enter oceans through runoff. A possible solution requires a populace better educated about their own detrimental impact on the environment. People need to be aware of the consequences of their actions, and learn to foster a greater respect for ocean water resources.
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References
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Coastal Zones and Sea Level Rise
- International Union for Conservation of Nature: Third of open Ocean Sharks Threatened with Extinction
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Ocean Facts
- International Tank Owners Pollution Federation:Trends in Oil Spills from Tanker Ships, 1995-2004
- ir and Waste Management Association: Oil Spills
Resources
- Photo Credit ocean image by avtosak from Fotolia.com
