Lab 2 Oceans and Plastic
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Apr 3, 2024
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LAB 2: OCEANS AND PLASTIC
100 points
Due exactly one week from lab start time. LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this lab, you will be able to
1.
Explain where the ocean’s water and salt come from.
2.
Explain how sea level varies over geologic time.
3.
Define ocean currents and factors that influence them.
4.
Identify human-caused issues impacting the ocean.
INTRODUCTION
Oceans are an important part of Earth and necessary for humanity to exist. The ocean is important because it produces over half of the world’s oxygen, absorbs 50 times more CO
2
than
the atmosphere, transports heat from the equator to the poles, and it regulates climate and weather patterns (
NOAA
). The ocean is a dynamic environment in constant motion and full of life. Ocean waters flow over vast distances in currents, and the surface elevation changes due to tides and the development of waves. Despite constant motion, ocean waters are nonhomogeneous because salt content and temperature vary regionally and with depth.
Ocean pollution is a complex mixture of chemicals and trash. More than 80% of pollution comes from land-based sources and it reaches the ocean through rivers, runoff, atmospheric deposition, and direct dumping. Ocean pollution is heaviest near the coast and highly concentrated along coastlines of low-income and middle-income countries. Ocean pollution can also be found in the deepest oceanic trenches and along the shores of remote islands (
National Geographic
). Chemical pollution is a concern for health, environmental, and economic reasons. It is often related to human activities such as fertilizer use on farms, which will runoff into local waterways and eventually end up in the ocean. Increased concentrations of chemicals have negative effects on wildlife and human health (
National Geographic
). Trash encompasses all manufactured products created by humans that end up in the ocean. Trash poses dangers to both humans and animals. Sea animals can become tangled and injured in debris. Small organisms feed on bits of broken-down plastic and absorb the chemicals
into their bodies. The smaller organisms are eaten by larger and larger animals; thus, these chemicals migrate through the food chain and can be consumed by humans (
EHS
). 1 1
Solutions for ocean pollution include prevention and cleanup (
NOAA
). Disposable and single-use plastic is commonly used in society, so changing society’s approach to plastic use will take a long time and be an economically challenging process. Cleanup is possible to a degree; however, it will take an even longer amount of time. Some debris do not float and are lost deep
in the ocean. Plastics that do float collect in large patches in ocean gyres. The “Pacific Garbage Patch” is one example of a collection of plastics floating at the surface between California and Hawaii (
National Geographic
). Figure from NOAA
. 1 2
LAB 4: OCEANS AND VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP Name: _____________________________
Section: _____________________________
This lab has two parts: 1) a virtual group field trip and 2) an exploration of ocean properties. For the virtual field trip we will be visiting Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary in California. We will be investigating the geological and coastal properties of this region as well as examining some of the environmental issues of the area and the means of mitigating them. [100 pts].
Oceans and Plastic Pollution StoryMap Presentation
Part I: Virtual Field Trip Go to Google Earth
, and search for “Monterey Bay”
1.
Where is the bay? [2 pts]
In California 2.
What ocean is the bay in? [2 pts] Pacific ocean Monterey Bay is a marine sanctuary. Visit this website
and answer the following questions.
(
https://montereybay.noaa.gov/intro/welcome.html
)
3.
Describe four physical characteristics of the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary. (size, shoreline, depth, etc.) [8 pts]
The shoreline is 276 miles. The deepest point of the bay reaches 12,743 feet. It is one of our nations largest national marine sanctuaries and is bigger than Yellowstone. It is home to 38 species of marine animals, more than 180 seabirds species, and 525 species of fish. Now, let’s look at the current physical condition of the water in the Bay. Visit this website
and answer the following
questions. https://www.swellinfo.com/surf-forecast/monterey-california
Use data for tomorrow (it doesn’t have to be a specific day – just look at tomorrows forecast no matter what day you are completing this lab) for all your answers for question 4-9.
4.
Surf height at 9 a.m. (include units). [2 pts] 2-3 feet, choppy 5.
Height and time of a.m. Low Tide. [2 pts] -.03 ft at 1:46 PM. 6.
Height and time of a.m. High Tide. [2 pts]
5;43 AM, 5.5 ft, 9:06 pm, 3.4 ft
7.
Wind direction and speed at 9 a.m. [2 pts]
NW 17 MPH
8.
Swell direction and speed at 9 a.m. [2 pts] 4.6ft at 7 sec- NW 308
1 3
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9.
Ocean temperature (include units). [2 pts] 60 degrees Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary is federally protected by the U.S. Department of Commerce. However, its proximity to the coastline makes it vulnerable to pollution from watershed areas that drain to it. Visit this website
to learn more. https://montereybay.noaa.gov/resourcepro/water-pro.html
10.
Name three contaminants that can pollute the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary and describe why they are
dangerous. [8 pts]
1. oil- is bad for the animals and will lead to a beqch bein shut down.
2. grease- gets trapped in the seabirds feathers and is dangerous 3. fecal. Bacteria – can cause beach closures because the water is contaminated. The bacteria can
make people and animals very sick.
1 4
Today, most coastal regions are threatened by human activities and pollution. Although protected, Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary is still at risk and currently experiences a variety of environmental issues. Visit this website
and answer the following questions. https://montereybay.noaa.gov/resourcepro/resmanissues/issues.html
11.
Using the table below, list and describe 6 issues the bay is experiencing and describe their cause/effect. [4
pts each, 24 pts total]
Issue
Cause
Effect
Climate Change
As we burn fossil fuels from cars and factories on land, CO2 is released into the atmosphere and the ocean absorbs about one third. This CO2 then reacts with seawater to form carbonic acid and releases H ions, which lowers pH and makes the ocean more acidic. The H ions pull away carbonate ions to form bicarbonate, making carbonate ions less available to organisms to
form CaCO3 shells and hard parts
including warming seawater temperatures, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and changes
in currents, upwelling and weather patterns, have the potential to cause fundamental changes in the nature and character of marine and coastal ecosystems.
Wildlife disturbance other sources of wildlife disturbance include low-flying aircraft, fireworks displays that can
flush seabirds and marine mammals, marine debris,
acoustic impacts
and
motorized personal watercraft
.
disturbance that may result in flushing birds from their nesting roosts, harassment or even death of pinnipeds or sea otters, as well as trampling and excess collecting of intertidal organisms. Whale strikes Large vessels such as tankers and cargo vessels also transit through the MBNMS between important west coast ports.
As a result, whales are subject to vessel strikes.
Marine debris Litter on the streets can wash down storm drains and rivers into the ocean. Trash left on the beach pollutes the ocean and our seashores. Extreme natural events, like tsunamis and hurricanes can carry any number of materials out to sea.
The bay is getting polluted.
Debris can injure marine animals that may swallow it or become
entangled in it.
Military Activities The military also conducts activities within the sanctuary, such as underwater cable repair, breakwater maintenance, acoustics testing, and research and development projects.
Military operations can potentially pose significant impacts to marine life and habitats, such as disturbance of seabird roosting areas by low-flying aircraft or spills of hazardous substances. Underwater acoustic devices, such
as low-frequency transmitters, can potentially interfere with marine mammal communications
Introduced species Invasions by non-native aquatic species
Although the effects of introduced aquatic species on habitats they colonize is often unknown, some clearly have had serious negative influences. Impacts often include decreasing abundance and even local extinction of native species, alteration of habitat structure, and extensive economic 1 5
costs due to biofouling.
Part II: Overview of Ocean Properties
The ocean is different from other water bodies on Earth. This is because the ocean is a solution containing dissolved salts. Using this website
, answer the question below. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/why_oceans.html#:~:text=The%20ocean%20formed%20billions%20of,know
%20as%20our%20world%20ocean
. 1.
How did the ocean form? [2 pts]
the ocean formed from the escape of water vapor and other gases from the molten rocks of the Earth to the atmosphere surrounding the cooling planet.
Using your textbook or this website
, answer the following questions. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/whysalty.html
2.
What are the two main sources of ocean salts? [4 pts]
runoff from the land and openings in the seafloor.
3.
What three factors affect the salinity of ocean water? [6 pts]
The concentration of salt in seawater (salinity)
varies with temperature, evaporation, and precipitation
. A layer of saltwater forms a single global ocean. The continents and the equator divide the ocean into distinct geographic regions, and partial enclosure of oceanic regions by land defines seas and bays. Mean sea level, the average elevation of the sea surface, has varied across geologic time. Using this website
, answer the question below. https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-level#:~:text=What's
%20causing%20sea%20level%20to,expanding%20as%20the%20water%20warms.
4.
What two main global warming factors are causing a change in sea level? How do they change sea level? [6 pts]
First, glaciers and ice sheets worldwide
are melting
and adding water to the ocean. Second, the volume of the ocean is expanding as the water warms.
Things that were once frozen, are now melting, and this water has to go somewhere. Visit this website
.
The ocean conveyor belt circulates ocean water around the entire planet. Also known as thermohaline circulation, the ocean conveyor belt is essential for regulating temperature, salinity and nutrient flow
throughout the ocean. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_currents/04currents2.html
5.
What are ocean currents? [2 pts]
1 6
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rm air around the equator rises and flows north toward the pole. As the air moves away from the equator, the Coriolis effect deflects it toward the right. It cools and descends near 30 degrees North latitude. The descending air blows from the northeast to the southwest, back toward the equator 6.
Why do currents circle the ocean? [2 pts]
The wind
7.
What is the pattern of oceanic currents in the Northern Hemisphere? The Southern Hemisphere? [4 pts]
Southern Hemisphere; these winds blow from the southeast toward the northwest and descend near 30 degrees South latitude. The descending air blows from the northeast to the southwest, back toward the equator
8.
If tons of plastic pollution were dumped off the coast of the California, where would they end up: Canada or Mexico? Why? (Visit https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/ocean/surface/currents/overlay=significant_wave_height/
orthographic=-122.75,27.93,266
set mode to ocean, animate to currents, overlay to currents) [4 pts]
To Canada because the current is flowing up and not down. Ocean water is in constant motion due to currents, upwelling and downwelling, and thermohaline circulation. Visit this website
and answer these questions. https://ocean-climate.org/en/awareness/ocean-circulation/
9.
Describe ocean circulation. What drives it? [2 pts]
Ocean circulation can be conceptually divided into two main components: a fast and energetic wind-driven surface
circulation, and a slow and large density-driven circulation which dominates the deep sea.
Blowing wind produces currents at the surface of the ocean which are oriented at 90° to its direction (on its right in the Northern Hemisphere and on its left in the Southern Hemisphere) due to the Earth rotation. As a consequence, it creates zones of convergence or divergence of ocean currents at the point where they meet
10.
Why does downwelling of ocean water occur at polar latitudes and upwelling at the equator? [2 pts]
Visit this website
about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and answer the following questions. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/
11.
What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? [2pts]
The North Pacific 12.
Where is it? What are the sources of pollution contributing to it? And where does the pollution come from (name countries)? [6 pts]
The north pacific. Microplastics, plastic debris. From Asia and North America 13.
How did it form? [2 pts]
1 7
In calm waters the trash just collects from off run and littering. 14.
Why is it a problem? [2 pts]
It is dangerous for the animals. 1 8