The Great Pacific Garbage Patch - Research Paper Example

Lecturer & 10/11/11 Research Paper for Oceanography Introduction The world ocean is very important and covers an area over 72 % of the total land mass (Broggiato, 320). The world Ocean plays a vital role in the Manhattan Beach city in that it provides food to the citizens and for export, provides labor to over 400,000 residents and becomes a tourist attraction site (Broggiato, 320). The Pacific Ocean is the worlds largest water mass covering an area of about 155,557,000 square kilometers for which it also holds the record for the greatest depth reaching about 35,827 feet named Mariana Trench (Broggiato, 320). The importance of the utilization of scientific methods of ocean study is that with increase in improved technology comes improvement in ocean research with much accuracy and detailed evidence on the nature and characteristics of the ocean floor. The study location which is Manhattan Beach city is located north of Hermosa Beach and to the south of El Segundo (Broggiato, 320). About one thousand miles in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Manhattan Beach is a large patch, twice the size of Texas that has collected garbage over the years and is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (Broggiato, 320). it is estimated that the patch is about six times the amount of plankton in the water and a threat to the ecosystem. Chapter II Plates Plates are a stretch of mass on land or offshore or a combination of both that share the same characteristics (Earth Science, n.pag.). Similar to continental plates, oceanic plates occur under the ocean and thus the name (Earth Science, n.pag.). However, it should be noted that the ocean plates are far thinner as compared to the continental plates since the ocean plates are about 10 km in width while the continental plates are known to be over 300 km in thickness (Earth Science, n.pag.). Zones that have tectonic plates experience mild to large seismic activities (Quarterly Chronicles and Documentation 843 +). Types of plate boundaries There are three main types of plate boundaries. They include the constructive plates that tend to slip past one another without causing much damages and actions (Quarterly Chronicles and Documentation 843 +). The second type of plate boundary is the destructive plate boundary, which just like the name suggests, causes plate destruction with one plate sinking to asthenosphere (Quarterly Chronicles and Documentation 843 +). The last type of plate boundary is the constructive plate boundary where new plates tend to emerge from during these activities (Quarterly Chronicles and Documentation 843 +). Manhattan experiences a constructive type of plate activity with relatively low number of seismic activities in record (Quarterly Chronicles and Documentation 843 +). Manhattan experiences a combination of both the continental plate activity and the oceanic plate activity (Quarterly Chronicles and Documentation 843 +). For example, Manhattan has experienced several earthquakes between the years 1963 to 1988 which have been recorded to the depths of up to 70 km underground (Quarterly Chronicles and Documentation 844). Chapter III Bathymetry Bathymetry is the name accorded to the measurement of the ocean, sea, river and other large water masses depths (Mukherjee et al., 331). In early times when technology was still crude and for hundreds of years, there was the utilization of the heavy cables or ropes to measure the depths of the sea and oceans. The method was crude since there were possibilities that the ropes in use would be deflected by deep water currents and thus creating a curve that in the end resulted to exaggerated figures (Mukherjee et al., 330). It was also not easy to know when the bottom of the ocean had been reached thus more anomalies (Mukherjee et al., 329). Bathymetry measurement Current technology has improved and eased the measurement of the ocean depths. There is currently measurement using sonar (Sound Navigation and Ranging) system. This system utilizes sound whereby sound is transmitted from the ship and the time that it takes for the sound to be echoed back to the ship is taken and then using mathematical derivation of speed, the distance is calculated (Mukherjee et al., 334). this technology was invented during the second World War that ran between the years 1939 to 1945 (Mukherjee et al., 334). This was later extended to have multiple sonar measurement devices attached on either side of the ship for wider coverage and efficient data collection over wide bodies of water (Mukherjee et al., 336). This was named as the Multiple Sonar Beams (Mukherjee et al., 336). There have also been improvisation of cameras that have the capabilities of using visible light to create imagery of the ocean floor while in orbit and they have been used for measurement of the figures on shallow floors of the water bodies (Mukherjee et al., 331). Satellite technology has also enabled better visualization and deeper measurement using radar technology (Mukherjee et al., 337). Using Radar technology, deep-sea topography can be mapped and this is done by detection of subtle variations that are caused by changing gravitational acceleration and mountains and ridges can be mapped with much ease including other masses that are underneath (Mukherjee et al., 337). Major features of Ocean floor There are several layers of the ocean that are almost consistent in any of the continents that share oceans. As the ocean graduates from the land, there is a gradual increase in depth over a region of about 70 km (about 43 miles) known as the continental shelf (Mukherjee et al., 338). This then leads to the continental slopes and rises where there is a sharp and steady slope at the rate of 70 m/ km (approximately 370 ft / mile) and stretches over a distance of about 16 km (10 miles) (Mukherjee et al., 338). From there starts the continental rise that is a couple of hundreds of miles in length (Mukherjee et al., 338). This section is characterized by fine-grained continental sediments that is mostly silt and clay (Mukherjee et al., 338). From the continental rise comes the abyssal that is the deepest portion of the ocean (Mukherjee et al., 338). This section is home to thousands of extinct volcanoes that are called the abyssal hills. Abyssal hills which are over 1 km (about 0.6 miles) in height are known as seamounts (Mukherjee et al., 338). This then leads to the mid-ocean ridge that is a very long chain of mountains undersea that extends in a downward manner up to the middle of the ocean (Mukherjee et al., 338). This then leads to the rift valley that is a deep seated large V-shaped notch in the ocean floor that then opens up to the subduction zone, which is the inverse of the just described downtrend to the valley (Mukherjee et al., 339). Chapter IV Sediments Sediments are materials that are made up of particles that settle at the bottom of the ocean floor or any liquid (Accornero, Rossella and Loredana, 372). They sometimes vary in their chemical characteristics (Accornero, Rossella and Loredana, 372). Sources One of the sources is the preexisting rocks that disintegrate to form both large and fine particles (Accornero, Rossella and Loredana, 372). They form the detrimental sediments while some get absorbed in the water to form the chemical sediments which later settles on the sea floor (Accornero, Rossella and Loredana, 373). Rivers also make contribution to the sediments bringing with them a cumulative suspension load of about (180 X 10 ^ 14 g/y) (Accornero, Rossella and Loredana, 373). For the dissolved sediment load, there is a cumulative of about (40 X 10 ^ 14 g/y) for which most comes from the dissolved salts (Accornero, Rossella and Loredana, 373). The amount of sediments that are collected from the wind totals about (5 X 10 ^ 14 g/y) most of which comes from the atmosphere (Accornero, Rossella and Loredana, 380). Icebergs also help in sedimentation in a process called ice-rafting while some organisms also transport the material they absorb and swallow through the faeces (Accornero, Rossella and Loredana, 380). Chapter V Unique water characteristics Water has unique characteristics that cannot be found in other liquids. To start with, water melts at 0 degrees Celsius and boils at 100 degrees Celsius. Relative to the elements on the periodic table of elements, water should be melting at about – 100 degrees Celsius and boil at about – 80 degrees Celsius (Badescu and Roelof, 598). This makes it possible to have life on earth otherwise the water should only exist as vapor (Badescu and Roelof, 598). The density of cold water is higher than that of warm water thus making it possible to have life in water since warm water remains on top protecting life underneath from solar radiations (Badescu and Roelof, 599). Water can form colloidal sols and can also dissolve other substances (Badescu and Roelof, 599). Water is recorded to have excess rate of self diffusion and less viscosity while at the same time holding very high latent heat (Badescu and Roelof, 599). Water, though colorless, can disperse all the colors in a rainbow (Badescu and Roelof, 600). Physically, sound travels over 4.5 times faster in water than though air with the speed of sound in water being 1531 m/s while that of air being 343 m/s (Badescu and Roelof, 601). This makes fish and other organisms to hear a predator approaching and take refuge (Badescu and Roelof, 599). Seawater Seawater is made up of six key elements that constitute 99 % of all the chemical composition of seawater. They include chlorine, sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium (Badescu and Roelof, 605). There are other elements like inorganic carbon (about 0.2 %), uranium (about 0.00000001 %), bromide (about 0.08 %) and gold (about 0.00000001 %) (Badescu and Roelof, 606). Chapter VI Seasons Seasons occur because the Earth as is known is tilted (also termed as wonky) (Ashton, Jeffrey and Rob, 719). Manhattan is in the Northern hemisphere that shares the following solar radiation distribution. 0 – 15 degrees north gets an average of 2,500 h/year, 15 – 35 degrees north gets about 3,000 h/year while above 35 degrees receives scattered solar radiations (Ashton, Jeffrey and Rob, 723). Weather is the measurement of atmospheric activities that occur on a day-to-day basis while climate is the measurement of cumulative weather patterns over a 30 year period (Ashton, Jeffrey and Rob, 728). There are three major wind belts in world and they include the Hadley cell, the polar cell and the Ferrell cell (Ashton, Jeffrey and Rob, 730). Land heating causes wind circulation causing low and high pressures that causes winds which after deflection due to the Earths rotation causes Coriolis force (Ashton, Jeffrey and Rob, 730). Coriolis force causes wind deflection to the to the left in the southern hemisphere and right in the northern hemisphere (Ashton, Jeffrey and Rob, 730). Summary In summary, it is clear that the world ocean plays a vital role in the maintenance of the world equilibrium. The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean and holds the deepest part of the oceans in the world. It has been said that oceanic plates are similar to continental plates only that oceanic plates occur in the ocean and are much thinner as compared to the continental plates. Manhattan is located in a place where it shares both the continental plate and the oceanic plate with some recorded seismic activities like earthquakes having been recorded. Bathymetry is the measurement of the depth of large masses of water like the ocean, lakes, sea and rivers to mention but a few. This is achieved by heavy cables technique, sonar technique, visible-light camera imaging and satellite radars. The Ocean floors cross-section graduates from the continental shelf of about 70 km width to continental slopes (16 km) sloping at the rate of 70 m/ km to continental rise stretched several hundreds of miles with fine-grained sediments. This gives way to abyssal plains that are the deepest section in oceans made of extinct volcanoes in their thousands. This opens to the mid-ocean ridge then to the deep V-shaped notch called the Rift Valley and finally to the subduction zone. Sediments are materials that are deposited on the ocean floors. This is caused by preexisting rock, rivers, wind, ice and biological agents. Water has unique characteristics that are beneficial to the aquatics and non-aquatic organisms. Seawater is made up of six key chemical elements that include chlorine, magnesium, sulfur, potassium and calcium. Seasons are caused by Earths wonky. Weather happens on a day-to-day basis while climate over a 30 year period. The three major wind belts are the Hadley, Ferrell and Polar cells. Works Cited Accornero, Alessandra, Rossella Gnerre, and Loredana Manfra. "Sediment Concentrations of Trace Metals in the Berre Lagoon (France): An Assessment of Contamination." Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 54.3 (2008): 372,372-85. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. Ashton, Andrew D., Jeffrey P. Donnelly, and Rob L. Evans. "A Discussion of the Potential Impacts of Climate Change on the Shorelines of the Northeastern USA." Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 13.7 (2008): 719,719-743. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. Badescu, Viorel, and Roelof D. Schuiling. "Aral Sea; Irretrievable Loss Or Irtysh Imports?" Water Resources Management 24.3 (2010): 597,597-616. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. Broggiato, Arianna. "Traditional and New Challenges to the Marine Environment." Environmental Policy and Law 38.6 (2008): 319,319-323. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. "Earth Science; Studies in the Area of Earth Science Reported from G.J.H. Mccall and Co-Researchers." Mining & Minerals Business (2010): 70. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. Mukherjee, Nibedita, et al. "From Bathymetry to Bioshields: A Review of Post-Tsunami Ecological Research in India and its Implications for Policy." Environmental management 46.3 (2010): 329,329-39. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. "Quarterly Chronicle and Documentation." The China Quarterly 199.03057410 (2009): 843,843-883. 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