Save the Oceans
Every minute, one garbage truck of plastic waste is dumped into the seawater.
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Only about 5 % of the ocean has been explored and mapped
When viewed from space, it is precisely the oceans that give our planet its unmistakable blue color. They form one large body of salt water and we can call it the world ocean. It covers 70.8 % of the earth's surface and holds 96.5 % of all the world's water.
World Map of Oceans. Source: Wikimedia.
World Ocean The World Ocean (or also the global ocean or the great ocean) is a term that originated in the 20th century and includes a comprehensively complete body of water that covers most of our planet. Its area is a hard to imagine 361 million square kilometers (139 382 879 sq miles).
One billion people directly depend on the oceans for food, and about 55 % of the world's population lives within 200 kilometers of the coast. The oceans fundamentally influence the climate and weather of the entire planet, as well as the production of oxygen and the absorption of CO2. Every living organism on our planet is more or less dependent on the oceans.
Did you know… the color of the oceans is determined by the light that is reflected from them and also by the light that is absorbed by the water? Under normal circumstances, water absorbs all colors of the spectrum except blue, which is why the oceans appear blue-tinted.
The vibrant blue Pacific as viewed from the Makapu'u area, Hawaii. Source: Unsplash.
Pacific Ocean This is the largest and deepest of the oceans. Its average depth is 4 280 m (14 040 ft) and it contains about 50.1 % of all ocean water. We find it between the west coast of North and South America and the east coast of Asia and Australia. It owes its name to the Portuguese explorer and navigator Fernão de Magalhães, who in 1519 found the strait (today known as the Strait of Magellan) that connects the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean.
Here we find the deepest known place on our planet, the Challenger Deep. If you would like to dive to it, you have to go to the bottom of the Mariana Trench to a depth of 10 935 m (35 876 feet) below sea level. If you are more of a lover of Alpine tourism, you may be surprised by the fact that the largest underwater mountain is also located here. You probably know that Everest is about 8 848 m (measured from base to summit), but Mauna Kea is 10 210 m high. It rises from the sea floor and its summit is the highest point in Hawaii.
In the Pacific, we find more than 25 000 large and small islands and atolls. The longest reef in the world – The Great Barrier Reef – is also located here. Measuring 1 429 miles long, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. It is made up of around 3 000 individual coral reefs and is home to about 400 different species of coral, 1 500 species of fish, 4 000 species of mollusks, 240 species of birds, plus a large number of mushrooms, anemones, sea worms, crustaceans and other species. It is thus one of the richest and most complex natural ecosystems on Earth.
The famous Ring Of Fire is also located in the Pacific Ocean area. That is, the area where about 75 % of all active volcanoes on our planet are located. And that includes the well-known Krakatoa volcano, which, after eruption in 1883, was responsible for more than 36 000 human victims.
Two of the five main gyres (more details below) of our planet are also located here. The North Pacific Gyre orbits north over the equator in a clockwise direction from California to Japan. In the south below it, the South Pacific Gyre flows in exactly the opposite direction. Thanks to these opposing forces, a large garbage "island" is formed in the Pacific, the Pacific Garbage Patch.
Did you know… the Pacific Ocean shrinks by one inch every year? On the other hand, the size of the Atlantic Ocean increases by the same amount every year. This is caused by the movement of tectonic plates.
View of the Atlantic Ocean from a viewpoint on Chapman's Peak in Cape Town, South Africa. Source: Unsplash.
Atlantic Ocean The second largest ocean is the one that separates Europe, Africa and Asia (connected by the Mediterranean Sea) on one side, and North and South America on the other. In the traditional European view, it separates the old world (Europe and Africa). Its average depth is 3 646 m (11 962 ft) and it contains about 23.3 % of all ocean water. The Atlantic has the saltiest water of all the oceans, with an average salinity of 3.5 percent.
This ocean was named after the Greek Titan, Atlas, who, according to legends, holds the firmament on his shoulders. It also has its second, unofficial name, "The Pond". It was formed after the breakup of the supercontinent Pangea about 155 million years ago. It has a flatter bottom than the Pacific, yet here you will find the longest mountain range on our planet. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge stretches through the middle of the ocean and measures more than 10 000 miles. It thus divides the Atlantic into two parts. It also has its deepest point, the Puerto Rico Trench, at 8 376 meters (27 480 feet).
The Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current that begins its journey in the Gulf of Mexico, plays a significant role in regulating the climate of the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic is responsible for transporting heat from the equator to the poles. It features a unique circulation pattern, known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which plays a key role in global climate patterns.
If you are a mystery lover, it will come as no surprise to you that the famous Bermuda Triangle is located here. It became the site of numerous unexplained disappearances of ships and planes. It can be found between Miami, Florida, Puerto Rico and Bermuda on the border between the Gulf of Mexico and the western Atlantic.
Did you know... the Atlantic Ocean produces about 20 % of the world's oxygen through the photosynthesis of marine plants and phytoplankton?
Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka. Source: Unsplash.
Indian Ocean The third largest ocean is the Indian Ocean, which contains 19.8 % of all ocean water. Its borders are Asia in the north, Africa in the west, Australia in the east and Antarctica (or the Southern Ocean if you prefer) in the south.
Compared to other oceans, there are fewer islands and narrower continental shelves. The average depth is 3 741 meters (12 274 ft). The deepest point is the Sunda Deep in the Java Trench off the southern coast of Java (Indonesia) at a depth of 7 450 meters (24 442 ft).
It has had its current name since at least 1515, when it was given in the Latin form Oceanus Orientalis Indicus ("Indian Eastern Ocean") after the Indian subcontinent. It was previously known as the Eastern Ocean (according to its position according to the cardinal points), but Chinese explorers named it in the 15th century as the Western Ocean. Anyway, ancient Sanskrit texts named this body of water as Ratnakara ("gem mine").
The Indian Ocean is known as the warmest ocean on the planet. This higher temperature makes the Indian Ocean less suitable for marine life, compared to other oceans. Nevertheless, a huge concentration of phytoplankton can be found in the western Indian Ocean due to the annual monsoon winds. This supports the marine ecosystem as the base of the marine food web for larger fish species, such as tuna. Unfortunately, its rate of warming is also the fastest among tropical oceans, further exacerbating climate change.
Since early history, the Indian Ocean has been home to the world's most important trading ports. These include ports in Durban and Richards Bay in South Africa, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai in India, Melbourne in Australia, Jakarta in Indonesia and Colombo in Sri Lanka. 80 % of the world's maritime trade in oil passes through this ocean, and about 40 % of the world's oil reserves come from the depths of the Indian Ocean. Busy trade routes, on the other hand, bring big problems with modern-day pirates.
Did you know… as a result of the melting of the ice in the polar regions, the Indian Ocean is expanding by about 20 cm every year?
Southern Ocean, Antarctica. Source: Unsplash.
Southern Ocean The existence or recognition of this ocean has long been a topic of heated debate and discussion. This was due to the fact that some states considered it only as an extension of the existing oceans (Pacific, Atlantic and Indian). Anyway, the International Hydrographic Organization defined it in 2000 as the official fifth ocean, located south of 60 degrees south latitude, with the natural boundary of Antarctica. That is why it is sometimes called the Antarctic Ocean.
It is the second smallest ocean and contains about 5.4 % of all ocean water. It has an average depth of 3 270 meters (10 728 ft) and a maximum depth of 7 432 meters (24 383 ft) at a location called the Factorian Deep in the South Sandwich Trench, southeast of South Georgia Island.
The Southern Ocean is the place from where the largest sea current on our planet – the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) – begins its journey. It moves at approximately 130 million cubic meters of water per second and flows clockwise (as seen from the South Pole). It is also known as the West Wind Drift. Sailors have known and used it for centuries. It makes travel from west to east very fast, but makes sailing from east to west extremely difficult. This is mainly due to the prevailing westerly winds.
Thanks to the favorable conditions, the area is rich in phytoplankton, consisting of diatoms and other single-celled plants, and thus also rich in krill. For example, Blue Whales, Elephant Seals, Emperor Penguins, Giant Squids and countless species of fish use the favorable conditions of the Southern Ocean.
Although the floor of the Southern Ocean has not been fully mapped and explored, scientists still believe that there are rich deposits of oil and natural gas beneath the depths of the ocean. It is also assumed that there are large deposits of gold and nodules of manganese due to gravitational separation. Therefore, the interests of mining companies are directed towards this area.
Did you know... there are no indigenous people in Antarctica? On the coldest continent, there are only research stations from different countries, where researchers stay and work for a limited time.
Polar Bear in the Arctic Ocean. Source: Unsplash.
Arctic Ocean The smallest and, at the same time, shallowest ocean is the one around the North Pole. Although it is officially recognized as an ocean, some oceanographers still call it the Arctic Mediterranean Sea, because it is almost completely surrounded by the landmasses of Eurasia and North America and is characterized by an ice cover. It contains only about 1.4 % of all ocean water.
The deepest point is Molloy Deep in the Fram Strait (274 km west of Svalbard in Norway) at a depth of 5 550 meters (8 050 ft), yet the average depth of the entire ocean is only around 987 meters (3 240 ft).
It has the lowest salinity of all the world's oceans. This is due to low evaporation, greater freshwater inflow from rivers and streams, as well as limited connection and outflow to surrounding higher salinity ocean waters.
Despite its inhospitable environment, which is sunless for half the year, there is rich animal life adapted to extreme conditions. Arctic waters are home to whales, including endangered Bowhead Whales, endangered Polar Bears, Beluga Whales, endangered Ringed Seals and Pacific Walruses.
This northern ocean is rich in natural resources and raw materials. It is estimated that there are huge reserves of natural gas and oil, iron ore, nickel, copper, zinc phosphates, precious metals, precious stones and diamonds.
Did you know... the Arctic got its name from the Greek "Arktos", which means “bear”? Of course, it is not named after the Polar Bear that lives there, but after the important constellations of the Great Bear and the Little Bear, which served as indispensable reference points for seafarers.
Satellite image of the Sea of Marmara (smallest true sea in the world). Source: NASA.
Difference between Sea and Ocean For the exact difference, it is best to go to the area of geography where the biggest difference is size.
- Seas are smaller and are located where the ocean meets the land and are partially enclosed by the land. There are about 50 seas on our planet.
- The open, salty water area that covers the Earth is called the ocean.
So as not to simplify it, there is of course one exception. This is the Sargasso Sea, which is located within the Atlantic Ocean and has no fixed borders. It is a floating habitat of seaweed, covering about 5 million square kilometers and is defined only by ocean currents.
The smallest sea on the planet is officially considered to be the Sea of Marmara with an area of about 11 500 km2. It belongs to the basin of the Atlantic Ocean and is located in Turkey, on the border of the European and Asian parts of the country.
Seven Seas The phrase is used in connection with sailors and pirates, in art or pop culture. In general, it is a figurative name for all the seas of the known world, although they are actually oceans. These "seven seas" include:
- the Arctic Ocean.
- the North Atlantic Ocean.
- the South Atlantic Ocean.
- the Indian Ocean.
- the North Pacific Ocean.
- the South Pacific Ocean.
- the Southern (or Antarctic) Ocean.
Ocean Surface Currents. Source: Wikimedia.
What are ocean currents? Ocean current is a continuous, predictable, directional movement of sea water. Currents move both horizontally and vertically (ascents or descents). They transport warm water from the equatorial regions to the poles and vice versa. They are thus very similar to the flow of winds in the atmosphere. These currents are responsible for the Earth's climate system. Ocean currents are created by:
- different salinity of water at different depths,
- different water temperatures,
- tidal forces,
- air flow in the ground layers of the atmosphere,
- equalizing the loss of water between individual areas of the seas and oceans,
- rotation of the Earth.
What are gyres? Gyres are a large system of circular ocean currents, formed by global wind patterns and forces created by the Earth's rotation. Thus, larger and more permanent ocean currents form systems known as gyres. The direction of rotation of the gyres is determined by the Coriolis effect, which causes ocean currents in the northern hemisphere to be deflected to the right in a clockwise direction. In the Southern Hemisphere, ocean currents are again pushed to the left, in a counterclockwise motion. There are five main gyres:
- the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre,
- the South Pacific Subtropical Gyre,
- the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre,
- the South Atlantic Subtropical Gyre,
- the Indian Ocean Subtropical Gyre.
Thermohaline Circulation (THC) There is also a global current in the ocean, which includes other, "local" ocean currents. It is sometimes called the oceanic conveyor belt, the great oceanic conveyor belt, or the global conveyor belt. Its driving force is the temperature of the water, as well as its salinity.
In the upper layers of the ocean, less salty and warmer water moves at a speed of 10 cm/s, and, in the depths of the ocean, very salty water moves only about 1 cm/s. This process takes place across all oceans, and if we were to imagine a single particle carried by this current, it would take about 1000 years to complete one round.
Holidays in Florida, USA. Source: Unsplash.
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Why is the ocean important? The oceans do not exist just to give our planet a blue color or to provide vacation destinations. Their importance goes far beyond that, of course. About 90 % of land animals are directly or indirectly dependent on the oceans.
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The ocean produces more oxygen than the rainforests of the Amazon It is generally claimed that the Amazon serves as the lungs of our planet. However, rainforests are responsible only for 28 % of oxygen on the Earth, while oceans contribute with approximately 70 %. So, regardless of whether we live in the mountains or in lowlands, seven out of every ten breaths is only thanks to the oceans.
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The ocean regulates the Earth's climate Ocean waters act as perfect climate regulators. They absorb heat and transport warm water from the equator to the poles and cold water back from the poles to the tropics. Without these currents, extreme weather would prevail in many areas and some locations would become uninhabitable. By holding 97 % of our planet's water, almost all the rain that falls on land is from ocean waters. So it regulates rain and drought.
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The ocean absorbs CO2 The ocean acts as a "carbon sink" and absorbs about 31 % of the CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere. On the one hand, this is good (or better) news for us, but on the other hand, it is harmful to life below the surface of the oceans.
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It is an important source of food The ocean is the number one source of food for over 1 billion people. Fish account for about 15.7 % of global animal protein consumption. But we do not only use fish from the oceans and seas. Other food sources include crustaceans, mollusks, cephalopods, algae and marine plants. About 4.9 billion people live within 100 kilometers of a coastline and this number keeps growing.
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It is home to countless animal species The ocean provides home to the largest amount of life on our planet. And we don't just mean what you see on the surface – whales, dolphins, sharks and turtles. There is more life under the surface of the ocean than on land. With certainty, we have recognized over 230 000 animal species, but there may be as many as 750 000 animal species or more living in the depths of the oceans. It is estimated that 50-80 % of all life on Earth is found below the surface of the ocean. So far, humans have explored and mapped only about 5 % of the ocean.
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It provides job opportunities The world's oceans and seas provide millions of jobs. Whether it is fishing, coastal and maritime tourism, aquaculture, renewable energy, mineral resources, biotechnology, shipbuilding and repair, oil and gas extraction or maritime transport (90 % of world trade takes place by sea).
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A place for recreation The ocean has beneficial effects on our mental and physical health. It calms us down and brings us joy. It is a place where we swim, surf, sail, dive and otherwise relax. Vacations by the sea have become synonymous with rest and positive experiences. Most people can no longer imagine a vacation without the sea.
There are currently about 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste in the oceans.
Marine life as we know it is suffering irreparable damage as a result of chemical pollution of the waters and millions of tons of waste that enter the oceans knowingly or unknowingly every year. Currently, more than 500 places are known as dead zones, where marine life cannot exist. What is behind all this?
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Ocean acidification – this phenomenon is caused by large amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere dissolving in the Earth's oceans. Over the past 200 years, the pH of surface ocean waters has dropped by 0.1 PH units. This may not sound like much, but the pH scale is logarithmic, so this change represents about a 30 % increase in acidity. This particularly affects organisms such as oysters and corals, which create hard shells and skeletons by combining calcium and carbonate from seawater. But the change in pH also affects other animal species.
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Unsustainable fishing – 90 % of the world's fishing grounds are already fully exploited or overfished. Billions of fish, unsuitable for processing, die needlessly in trawls every year. Unsustainable fishing is a major threat to all life in the ocean.
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Ghost nets – According to the WWF, about 500 000 to 1 million tons of fishing gear enter the ocean every year. Discarded and lost nets are a huge problem for marine life and animal habitats, but also for industrial fisheries and seagoing vessels. Ghost nets are estimated to make up 46 % of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (now 1.6 million square km, almost 3 times the size of France) and up to 10 % of all marine litter.
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Inadequate protection – even though the oceans cover 71 % of our planet, only a small fraction – about 3.4 % – is under protection. The sad fact is, however, that the vast majority of these few marine parks and reserves are protected only by name. Without additional and better managed marine protected areas, the future of the ocean's rich biodiversity remains uncertain.
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Tourism and development – beaches are not only popular holiday destinations, they are a popular place for people to live. All over the world, coastlines are gradually transformed by human intervention, and many beaches disappear under flocks of vacationers every year. These intense human interventions are taking their toll on marine life.
Container ship. Source: Unsplash
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Shipping – the oceans are huge highways through which we transport millions of tons of goods. This transport infrastructure leaves its mark: oil spills, strandings in shoals, bottom damage from anchors and waste disposal, discharge of ballast water and oily waste threaten marine habitats around the world.
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Oil and gas – vast reserves of oil, gas and minerals lie deep beneath the seabed. The exploration and drilling of these deposits is a major environmental burden on the sensitive marine ecosystem. For example, US sewage treatment plants release twice as much oil into the sea every year as oil spills from tankers.
Plastic pollution and juvenile fish, Indonesia. Source: Unsplash
- Pollution from land – untreated sewage, garbage, fertilizers, pesticides, industrial chemicals, plastics ... most waste on land (more than 80 %) eventually ends up in the ocean. This happens either intentionally (waste is exported directly to the sea), through sewage or through the air. Such pollution harms the entire marine food chain and also gets back to humans.
Did you know... there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste in the ocean?
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Aquaculture – fish farming is often cited as an answer to declining wild fish populations. This is mainly due to pollution released by farms, escapes of farmed fish (which are mostly foreign, invasive species for the given location), increased parasite load and the need to hunt wild fish for feed.
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Climate change – coral bleaching, rising sea levels, changing distribution of animal species – we are already witnessing dramatic changes as a result of global warming and climate change.
Garbage Patches. Source: viaGood
Garbage patches A separate category of pollution/threat are large "trash islands" – what are called garbage patches. These arise from waste thrown or washed into the ocean or from fishing gear. They are shaped by rotating currents called "gyres".
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The most famous is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (or Pacific Trash Vortex). It is divided into the Eastern Garbage Patch, which is between Hawaii and California, and the Western Garbage Patch, which is between Japan and Hawaii. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch now covers an area of 1.6 million square km, almost 3 times the area of France.
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The South Pacific Garbage Patch was confirmed in the South Pacific Gyre in mid-2017. It was comparable in size to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch from 2007. It mostly contains suspended plastic particles smaller than a grain of rice.
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The Indian Ocean Garbage Patch was discovered in the Indian Ocean Gyre in 2010. It is not in the form of a continuous layer of debris, but the particles are invisible to the eye at first glance. The concentration is estimated at 10 000 particles per square kilometer.
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Inside the North Atlantic Gyre is the North Atlantic Garbage Patch, which was first described back in 1972. The size is estimated at hundreds of square kilometers and the number of pieces of garbage at 200 000 pieces per square kilometer.
Did you know that... plastic waste kills up to 1 million seabirds, 100 000 marine mammals and countless fish every year? Plastic remains in our ecosystem for years, harming thousands of sea creatures every day.
Every effort at correction counts. If we come together, the difference will be huge.
It doesn't matter how far you are from the ocean, because from every place on our planet you can influence how much waste ends up in the ocean.
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Educate yourself as well as others It's hard to clean up the ocean without knowing why it's polluted and what pollution can cause. Read and pass the information on to your friends. Perhaps your enthusiasm for the cause will be what ignites the passion for the right cause in your surroundings too.
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Avoid single-use plastics Say "no" to unnecessary plastics, such as straws, plastic bags, bottles and packaging. If you have to use plastics, make sure they are properly recycled.
Ocean Cleanup Group in action. Source: Unsplash
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Pick up trash 80 % of waste enters the oceans from the land. Turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, birds get entangled in fishing lines, and other animals get stuck in plastic packaging. These are all things that can be easily avoided by simply disposing of waste properly, recycling and also reducing the use of plastics.
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Reduce your carbon footprint Carbon dioxide (a known greenhouse gas) contributes to greater ocean acidification. You can help if you cycle, or take public transport, turn off unnecessary lights and buy food from sustainable sources.
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Use environmentally friendly products Cleanliness is half of health, but not every cleaning agent is friendly to Nature. Choose those that are biodegradable and thus kinder to Nature. The same applies when choosing chemicals for your garden.
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Eat sustainably sourced fish Fish is an indispensable source of protein, vitamins, minerals and polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. For some coastal communities, fish are the primary source of food.
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Guide companies to a responsible approach Perhaps even your favorite cafe or restaurant uses disposable plastic stirrers or straws. Tell them you don't need single-use plastics. Try to engage in a dialogue with them about replacing them with more sustainable substitutes.
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Think about what you flush Medications are increasingly being detected in groundwater and surface water, which they enter through toilets. There are plenty of other products that don't break down the way people think – threads, cat litter, insecticides, vegetable oils, paints... The next time you flush something down the toilet, make sure it's safe for Nature.
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Reach out to your elected representatives Do you know what marine projects the government is planning? How do politicians approach ocean conservation and waste management? Reach out to your elected representatives and ask how they can help to protect the oceans and the environment.
