Significance of the Oceans

The Ocean Ecosystem 1. Source of moisture 2. Source of oxygen 3. Source of protein supply 4. Source of energy

Source of Moisture http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/maps/air_masses_2.jpg

South Africa Uplift over the Drakensberg Durban 1008mm Port Nolloth 150mm Less evaporation and little uplift, parrallel winds Warm Mozambique current More evaporation Onshore airflow Cold Benguela current Warm Agulhas www.aabtourism.com/images/map%20South%20Afric...

Activity On the sheet provided fill in the missing currents Indicate if they are warm or cold currents Highlight areas where warm and cold currents meet

Ocean Currents

Causes of currents Prevailing wind e.g. the West wind drift current Earths rotation e.g. Southern hemispheric anticlockwise currents Salinity – more saline the water, the heavier the water Temperature – the colder the water, the heavier it is

Oceanic circulation: Currents Cyclones / Gyres

Source of oxygen Phytoplankton

Photolysis …. The part of photosynthesis that occurs in the granum of a chloroplast where light is absorbed by chlorophyll, turned into chemical energy, and used to split apart the oxygen and hydrogen in water, releasing oxygen. (http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/P/photolysis.html)

Protein Source

Zooplankton

Where are all the fish found? On the continental shelf where there is sunlight and therefore photosynthesis can occur. This means that there is much phytoplankton in the area i.e. food for zooplankton and fish Where warm currents carrying oxygenated water and cold currents bearing nutrients released by cold water washing across the ocean floor, meet

Two Levels of Fishing

Subsistence fishing

Commercial fishing

Sources of Energy Tidal Wave Oil and gas

Tidal Energy http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/01-02/RE_info/Tidal%20power%20files/image002.jpg

Tidal Power

Wave Energy http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/04/uk_alternatives_to_oil/img/4.jpg

Wave Power

Wave Power http://www.podnine.com/asap_power/Images/products/SDE_orange.jpg

Make your own wave energy system

Oil and Natural Gas

Various Rigs

Dangerous!

Mossgas

El Nino

El Nino Effects

La Nina El Nino La Nina is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, compared to El Nino, which is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific.

La Nina Effects

Activity 5

Anomaly Positive anomaly The surface temperature is warmer than the calculated temperature for that latitude Negative anomaly The surface temperature is colder than the calculated temperature for that latitude

Interesting facts Over 70 percent (70.8%) of the surface of the globe is ocean. In fact, all of the land mass of the Earth (continents and islands) would fit into the Pacific Ocean alone - and with room to spare.

Interesting facts Population - More than half the world’s population live within a   60 miles distance from the coast. This is more than 2.7 billion people. Rapid urbanization will lead to more coastal megacities containing 10 million or more people. By the end of the millennium 13 out of 15 of the world’s largest cities will be located on or near the coast.

Interesting facts The oceans contain 95% of the habitat space on the planet. Creatures, large and small - The number of ocean species known to man are 275,000. The largest animal and marine mammal in the world is the blue whale. It's up to 33 meters long and weighs as much as 40 rhinoceroses put together.

Interesting facts Some scientists estimate that the oceans contain as much as 50 quadrillion tons (50 million billion tons=50,000,000,000,000,000) of dissolved solids. If the salt in the ocean could be removed and spread evenly over the Earth’s land surface it would form a layer more than 500 feet  thick, about the height of a 40-story office building. - Atlantic sea water is heavier than Pacific sea water due to its higher salt content

The Impact of Humans on Oceans

The Impact of humans on Oceans Ocean Pollution Mining Fishing Threats to estuaries and wetlands

Ocean pollution

Eutrophication

A bloom of phytoplankton - the well-known "red tide" - off the Cape west coast in April 2003.

Oil Spills

Plastic/garbage

Sewage

Radioactive waste

Chemicals

Thermal Pollution

Direct dumping Dumping chalk

Activity 4 Read about the Jolly Rubino, the MV Treasure and the Apollo Sea Activity 4.1 and 4.2

Pollution solutions Do the mindmap

Pollution solutions Global issue – currents “internationalize” the problem Banning – the dumping of plastics and industrial waste, untreated human waste and other dangerous material into the sea and rivers (which eventually feed the sea)

Over-fishing

Solutions to Overfishing? P104 and 105

Role of the Oceans in World Trade and Tourism

Advantages of Shipping Importance of shipping is increasing More efficient than before Cheap Bulky material Long distances – intercontinental

Oil Tankers

ULCC’s

Problems

Sink and Oil spills

Containerization

Advantages of Containers Accessible to the general public Easy to track More protection against theft Easier to pack Weather proof

Ro Ro Ships

Cruise ships

Diver Pressure

Tourism What negative and positive effects do tourists have on the marine environment? Read p102 What do you believe would be the best way/s to manage the effect tourists have on the environment? This you have to think through…

Mining Diamond mining off west coast of South Africa On shore zone - scars landscape/ ecosystems In shallow water – gravel is suctioned, destroying coral, plant and other animal habitats Mossgas – pipeline potential source of pollution

Managing mining’s impact Is there such a thing as “environmentally friendly” mining? How can sea-mining be more environmentally friendly? Is it possible to ban sea-mining?

Threats to estuaries and wetlands

Threats to estuaries and wetlands Estuaries can be drained and used for pastures or planting of crops Water table may fall and ecosystems are severely impacted. How? Tourism e.g. St Lucia Upstream industrial pollution

Managing wetlands Encourage research into wetland management Train people National policy Plan for sustainable use of wetlands Work internationally and especially regionally

Sustainability Focus p104 “The development that meets the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” Focus p104

Coastal Management: Internationally Coastal population 75% of world population by 2025! Protect marine environment against unbridled development

Coastal Management: Internationally UNCLOS Coastal countries can claim sovereign rights over the national area of the continental shelf for exploration, exploitation, conservation and management of all resources for 22,2km – 370km

Coastal Management: Internationally Marine Protected Areas Beach villages in the West Indies

Coastal Management: Internationally Blue Flag beaches Good management Safety Good facilities Education for beach users Water must meet minimum microbiological standards 8 Beaches in South Africa

Blue Flag Beaches

Coastal Management: South Africa Coastal care Financial and technical assistance Education and training Research and coastal information projects Litter removal Security Maintenance of amenities

Coastal Management: South Africa Marine and Coastal management 20 Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s) Sanctuary and breeding grounds to preserve marine species

Aliwal Shoal Cape Peninsula Namaqualand

Port St Johns