WORLD OCEAN DAY, Wonder and Worry
Since it is World Ocean Day on Weds. June 8, sparked by an article in Vancouver's local paper, (The Vancouver Sun, June 6, 2015, Opinion, A9), I thought I would share some really neat information about the ocean.
The ocean covers 70% of the earth and absorbs 50% of the excess heat generated from greenhouse gases warming the earth. Still 2015 was the hottest year on record. 2016 is lined up to surpass that record by far.
The ocean absorbs 30% of of the carbon dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels.
Did you know (I didn't) that Canada, where I live, has 27000 kms. of coastline? The ocean plays a role in health, the economy, recreation, and impacts weather.
In 2006, Ocean Networks Canada, which was then just beginning their research, set about to comprehend the ocean more fully. They place a real time portal into the Salish sea, off British Columbia, allowing scientist, educators, policy-makers and the public the opportunity to go below the surface from anywhere in the world via the Internet. To date there are more than 1000 kms. of sea floor cabling supporting hundreds of sensors, both video and audio. See the tab "Sights and Sounds" to take a look at their website and "go under water" at: http://www.oceannetworks.ca
Even with the ocean capturing 50% of the heat generated by global warming the earth temperature is still rising. Between British Columbia and Alaska there is a large patch of water called "the warm blob." It is 3 times the size of British Columbia and 200 meters or 715 ft. deep. The "warm blob" is 2.5 degrees warmer than the surrounding ocean.Scientist are not sure why this is occurring but wonder if it is because the ocean is reaching it's limit of being able to capture excess heat generated from fossil fuels. It's linked to dramatic weather changes in B.C. and California as well as wildfires, most notably the May 2016 devastating fire in and around Ft. MacMurray, Alberta. Science and researchers are trying to understand the warm blob so they can mitigate it's effects. In my most humble opinion we need to mitigate fossil fuel use, and very quickly, on earth as well as the effects of its overuse.
There is a large swath of Pacific Ocean in which small particles of plastic are suspended just below the surface. While it has been difficult to measure the size of this patch, termed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, estimates are that it is between 700,000 and 15, 000,000 sq. miles - larger than continental United States. There are large pieces of plastic found in the Patch but most are confetti sized pieces just below the surface. The effects of all this plastic on bird and sea populations are dire. Midway Atoll, where 1.5 million Laytsan albatross breed sees 20 million tons of ocean plastic washed up on its beaches each year. 30% of chicks die from ingestion of these plastic through feeding by their parents.
The Great Ocean Cleanup project has crowd-funded and researched the Patch, with 30 ships participating, and designed a method of retrieval. In 2015 they won an award for their design. Ocean Cleanup is expecting to start clean-up in 2020.
Method cleaning products uses a percentage of Ocean plastic, retrieved from Hawaiin beaches, in the production of it's containers of dish soap. Marina DeBris uses trash from the Patch to create fashion called trashion and art installations, to raise awareness of ocean and beach plastic pollution.
I started this post to give you some cool information about the ocean. As it developed it changed into worrisome information about our oceans. I didn't expect that at the outset. There is so much wonder to share and to know about the amazing body of water covering 70% of our planet. It is a totally distinct ecosystem on earth. Much is not known and still to be discovered, much like outer space. That my post veered to the worry about the changes in the ocean is telling, though. I see in myself that denial again of what a dire situation it is here on earth right now due to our living out of balance with the earth. I am learning again and again - to face this reality is the only way to change it.
Still, I want to share some interesting, cool info, too. For en even longer list check out
It is estimated 50-80% of all life lives under the sea.
90% of all living space on earth is in the ocean. Less than 10% of that has been explored
The average depth of the ocean is 3795 m. or 12,333.75 ft. On earth the average height is 840 m. or 2730 ft.
The lowest point of the ocean is 11034 m. or 35860.5 ft, one mile lower than Everest is high.
Earth's longest mountain range is under the sea, the Mid-Ocean range. It is 50000 kms. long and winds around the globe from the Arctic Ocean, to the Atlantic, past Africa, Asia and Australia, crossing the Pacific to the west coast of N. America.
If all of the world ice melted the oceans would rise 66m or 214.5 ft.
Antarctica has as much ice as the Atlantic has water. 97% of the earth's water is in the ocean. Only 1% is fresh water.
90% of earth's volcanic activity occurs under the sea.
1/3 of the world's oil comes from under the ocean.
1.5 million species have been named and classified. (Ed. note: the complexity is mind boggling and a true wonder) Estimates say that 2 million to 50 million remain unclassified. ( Ed. note: Such a large estimate range speaks to how little we know about the ocean.)
The top ten feet of the ocean holds as much heat as the entire atmosphere of earth.
Life began in the oceans 3.1-3.4 billion years ago. Land dweller appeared 400 million years ago.
Please repost to spread the word and knowledge and help create the desire to save the oceans and our planet.
Cathy
