8.11D recognize human dependence on ocean systems and explain how human activities such as

runoff, artificial reefs, or use of these resources have modified these systems

HUMAN IMPACT ON OUR OCEANS

PEOPLE AND OCEANS

HUMAN DEPENDENCE ON OCEANS

• The ocean is our life support system, giving us more

than half of the oxygen we breathe, regulating climate,

and providing valuable resources

• Oceans are a major source of food and oxygen for

humans around the world

• The types of food are varied and can be plentiful, but

not endless.

A SOURCE OF FOOD AND MORE -

• Most of the oxygen comes from tiny ocean plants –

called phytoplankton – that live near the water’s surface and

drift with the currents. Like all plants, they photosynthesize –

that is, they use sunlight and carbon dioxide to make food.

• Scientists believe that phytoplankton contribute between 50 to

85 percent of the oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere.

A SOURCE OF OXYGEN -

• Interactions of solar and ocean systems create

the weather systems necessary to bring

precipitation to continents

(RECALL THAT) OCEANS DRIVE WEATHER

PATTERNS

HUMAN IMPACTS ON OCEANS

• Burning fossil fuels and deforestation are contributing to global

climate change which impacts ocean warming with a cascade of

effects on life on Earth

• Debatable question: Is climate change a reason for concern?

OCEAN WARMING

• Human activities including building cities that dump waste, using

excess fertilizers and pesticides on lawns and in agriculture that

runoff into oceans, and agricultural practices that allow erosion

of soil into oceans modify marine ecosystems.

POLLUTION

• Drilling for oil disturbs marine habitats

• Oil platforms can become sources of artificial reefs, but

risk great harm if spills occur

OIL

OCEAN ECOLOGY AND PEOPLE

• Video – Ocean Ecology

WILDLIFE AND OCEANS

HOW IS MARINE LIFE DEPENDENT

ON OCEANS SYSTEMS?

• The amount of sunlight, wave action,

water temperature, water pressure,

salinity levels and pH levels are important

to maintain marine populations

• The oceans absorb carbon dioxide, keeping some of it from the atmosphere. But while oceans help slow the pace of global warming, they too are absorbing too much carbon dioxide, resulting in disruption of the ocean's pH balance.

• This increasing acidity causes calcium carbonate to dissolve, affecting life forms including corals, shellfish, and several species of plankton that rely on calcium for their very structure.

• All the way from the tiniest atomic level to large scale pollution, we are changing our oceans – what are the results?

LIFE’S DEPENDENCY ON OCEANS

Here

are

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ew

ex

am

ple

s o

f o

ur

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act

TO REVERSE THE “TIDE”

• What can we do? A few things that we have

already done…

• Stabilizing barrier reef systems protects coastlines and

estuaries from some destruction caused by tropical storms

and hurricanes

• Countries have made protective areas of many reefs and

conservation efforts are increasing

POSITIVE IMPACTS

• Creating artificial reefs by sinking old ships provides more

habitats for some marine organisms

POSITIVE IMPACTS

Inadequate protection of the oceans

Only 3.4% of the world’s oceans have been designated as protected - compared to almost 16% of our planet’s land area.

Conflicting priorities

Marine park managers - and the governments and non-profit organizations that support them - must often juggle conflicting national and local priorities coming from a variety of sectors, such as industry, artisanal fishers, commercial fishers, tour operators, local town councils, farmers, etc.

REDUCING IMPACT IS A GLOBAL ISSUE

WE CAN AND MUST DO MORE

FOUR MAJOR NEGATIVE IMPACTS WE HAVE

DAILY

• We looked at these last class -

• Fishing

• Plastics

• Oil

• Coral Bleaching

• Now, let’s tackle one of the problems!

OUR INVESTIGATION ON OIL SPILLS

• BP Oil Spill (how to clean up an oil spill)

• EVERYONE is responsible for their individual formal

lab write up. You will take notes in your lab journal

or on a google doc during this process.

• You will have LIMITED in class time to do each step

(the conclusion and lab report are at home)

• This means you must be ready to work each day

with your supplies – no supplies, no experiment!

OIL SPILL INVESTIGATION PACKET (READ

THIS BEFORE NEXT CLASS)

This is what you need to discuss in your groups in just a few minutes:

• Brainstorm methods of clean up

• How could we model cleaning up an oil spill

• What supplies do we need?

At home:

• Read the packet!!!!!!!!

• Research solutions that are being tested or that already exist

• Here are the groups that you are working with. Make sure that you have contact information on everyone in your group before you leave class today.

GOALS TO PREPARE FOR NEXT CLASS

This is what you need to discuss in your groups in just a few minutes:

• Brainstorm methods of clean up

• How could we model cleaning up an oil spill

• What supplies do we need?

At home:

• Research solutions that are being tested or that already exist (start with links on teacher website)

GOALS TO PREPARE FOR NEXT CLASS