Ocean Systems

Human Dependence and Modification

Recognize human dependence on ocean systems and explain how human activities such as

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

systems.TEK 8.11 D

Our Oceans

• Over 70% of our planet is ocean.• 97% of the water on Earth is ocean water

• Ocean systems – Earth systems that include the oceans which effect weather and climate, ocean currents, coral reef and artificial reef ecosystems and marine food webs.

Surface Water

• Water on the surface of the Earth.

Ground Water

• Fresh water contained n the open spaces of soil and rock beneath Earth’s surface.

• Earth’s most important resources for drinking, irrigations and washing.

Aquifer

• An underground layer of permeable rock, gravel, sand or silt that holds ground water.

How humans depend on oceans

• Create a circle map to brainstorm how humans depend on the ocean.

Human Dependence

on oceans

How humans depend on oceans

• Food – fish and shellfish• Transportation – both travel and shipping• Recreation (boating, scuba, jet skis)• Minerals – salt, sand, gravel, manganese, copper,

nickel, iron and cobalt• Drilling for crude oil• Removing carbon and providing oxygen (C-cycle)• Regulates Earth’s climate – transfers heat• Medicines for fighting disease.

Human Activities that modify ocean systems

• Positive activities:– Artificial reefs, education programs, reducing, reusing and

recycling, controlling global warming, fishing regulations, etc.

• Negative activities:– Overfishing/Overharvesting– Shipping– Global warming– Coastal development– Deforestation– Siltation/sedimentation flowing into oceans– Pollution

Overfishing/Overharvesting

• Fishing or harvesting too much marine life that it negatively effects the ecosystem.

• Doesn’t allow fish time to reproduce and replace.

Shipping

• In theory, shipping can be safe and profitable for economies around the world.

• However, problems may occur– Oil spills– Dumping of waste water– Chemical accidents–Water and air pollution– Disrupting natural ocean environments– Killing marine wildlife

Oceans impact on Climate

• Ocean currents transfer heat great distances around the world that helps regulate Earths climate.

Oxygen Production

• 90% of the worlds oxygen production comes form marine producers called phytoplankton in our oceans.

• Carbon Cycle

Coral Reefs• Natural underwater

ocean structures made up of living coral and their remains of limestone.– Provide humans with

food, recreation, and medicines.

– Are at risk due to overfishing, ocean warming, pollutions and siltation due to coastal development.

Artificial Reefs

• Human-made underwater structures that act as artificial coral reefs to help promote marine life.

Benefits of Artificial Reefs

• Artificial reefs provide complex, durable and stable homes for many fishes and marine invertebrates

• Scientists use artificial reefs as platforms for rigorous ecological experimentation.

• Fishery managers sometimes use artificial reefs to help buffer the effects of overfishing and environmental damage.

• Artificial reefs attract anglers and divers and provide a significant fiscal boost to local economies.

Tidal Power

• Tidal energy in the form of hydropower that converts the energy of tides into useful forms of power mainly for electricity.

Global Warming

• The average increase in Earth’s global surface temperatures.

• Ocean water absorbs most of the heat from the sun causing ice caps to melt and ocean temperatures to increase.

Watershed

• An area of land where all of the water that falls in it and drains off of it goes into the same place.

Runoff

• The flow of water over land from rain, snow melt of other sources.

• Can be polluted by human activities and run into our surface water, ground water and oceans.

Algae Bloom

• An excessive growth of algae (red to bright, neon green to more blue-green) in water that occurs naturally or as a result of an excess of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) from organic pollution.

Algae Blooms

• Most algal blooms are harmless, but certain types of algae may pose a risk to humans, animals and water quality. Algae and algal blooms are generally not considered harmful unless they are capable of producing toxins and you come in direct contact with them.

• Blue-green algae that form have been known to produce a wide array of neurotoxins, liver toxins, cell toxins and skin irritants

Factors Contributing to Algae Blooms

• Excess nutrients from runoff (e.g. phosphorus or nitrogen) from Agriculture and Urban sources.

• Intense Sunlight• Low-water levels or low-flow

conditions• Calm water (low-wind conditions)• Warmer temperatures

Ocean Systems Card SortOcean System

• Oxygen Production• Coral Reefs• Estuaries• Mangrove Swamps• Kelp Forests• Currents• Wind patterns• Evaporation and

precipitation• Marine Life• Storage and Exchange of

Gases: CO2 and N• Sea Ice• Seasonal Weather

Patterns

Human Impact

• Coastal Development• Aquaculture• Commercial and

Recreational Fishing• Burning of Fossil Fuels• Deforestation• Introduction of Invasive

Species• Agricultural Waste (P and

N) and pollution• Oil spills• Trash pollution• Urban runoff via storm

drains• Raw Sewage pollution• Industrial Pollution

Consequences

• Extreme Storms• Dead Zones• Ocean acidification• Human displacement• Collapsed fisheries

(overfishing)• Habitat destruction• Change in precipitation and

weather patterns• Disrupted Gas Storage and

exchange• Human health issues• Extinction and loss of

biodiversity• Siltation• Garbage patches