Ocean Pollution and Coral Bleaching

Pacific Ocean Pollution

• Nearly 2 trillion pieces of mostly plastic trash are spread across 3.4 million km².
• 30% of ocean pollution is CO2, absorbed since industrialization.
• Plastic pollution harms seabirds, sea turtles, seals, and fish, either by ingestion or entanglement.
• A study found 35% of tested fish had plastic in their stomachs.
• Humans add 3 kg of plastic to the ocean per person per year.
• Over 40% of the ocean is affected by human activities (waste, chemicals, overexploitation of resources, urbanization, coastal modification).
• 13% of the ocean's surface area is untouched.

Coral Bleaching and Ocean Acidification

• Surface water temperature has increased by 0.9°C in 50 years, now averaging 0.06°C per year; expected average of 21.1°C in 2023.
• Symbiodinium algae live in corals; heat stress causes toxic chemical production. Corals expel these algae, leading to bleaching and starvation.
• Increased CO2 and ocean warming disrupt seawater balance, causing increased acidity and decreased carbonate.
• Ocean acidification happens when burning fossil fuels releases CO2 into the ocean, forming carbonic acid.
• Carbonic acid splits into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions.
• Hydrogen ions combine more readily with carbonate than calcium. This makes it harder for marine animals to form shells.

Habitat Loss

• Coral reefs are habitats for coastlines, plants, animals, recreation, and jobs.
• 20% of coral reefs have been lost in the last 20 years.
• 50% of Australia's Great Barrier Reef is dead, with another 50% at risk due to acidification and bleaching.
• Mangroves protect coastal areas and soak up CO2; offer homes for fish.
• 35% of mangroves have been lost.
• Seagrass stabilizes the seafloor, provides food and habitat for marine organisms, and improves water quality by absorbing CO2.
• 29% of seagrass beds have been lost.

Overfishing

• Percentages of ocean areas based on fish status (developing, exploited, overfished, depleted) are shown in a table for 1950 and 2014.
• Future hope for fish stocks lies in marine protected areas.
• Most overfishing is unregulated, illegal, and unreported.
• 29% of fish stocks are overfished, 61% are fully fished, and 10% are underfished (Based on a pie chart).

Explore the critical issues of Pacific Ocean pollution and coral bleaching through this quiz. Learn about the staggering amounts of plastic waste, its impact on marine life, and the effects of rising temperatures on coral ecosystems. This quiz highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts in our oceans.