Sunday, November 22, 2009

Seas Grow Less Effective at Absorbing Emissions

Since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution the Earths oceans have been absorbing carbon dioxide from fuel emissions. But recently the oceans have become less efficient at absorbing these carbon dioxide emissions. Since the 1950's the oceans have been a good carbon dioxide sink for us but since the 1980's it has been slowing down proving that it will not be able to last forever. The more carbon dioxide the ocean absorbs the more acidic it becomes and then the less it will end up being able to absorb. Even though the human carbon dioxide emissions have increase the carbon dioxide sink in the ocean has become less and not increased like expected.
It is bad that we need to use our own oceans as carbon dioxide sinks because we are producing to much green house gases. If the ocean is slowing down in absorbing carbon dioxide emissions it is just showing us that we need to cut back on the amount of carbon dioxide that we are putting into the air. We need to cut back and try to restore the oceans to what they where 50 to 60 years ago.

Sindya N. Bhanoo
November 18 2009

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Afloat in the Ocean, Expanding Islands of Trash

In a spot in the pacific ocean about 1000 miles off of the coast of Hawaii there is an area of trash twice the size of Texas floating. It is said that the area of trash is doubling in size every decade that humans pollute the ocean. Scientist say that this area of trash is only one of five trash piles throughout our oceans. Many toxic chemicals and plastics are put into the ocean and fish and other marine life are eating it. There are many reasearch teams that are now testing the materials in the garbage patch to test the amount of toxic materials in it.
I think that it is terrible that there can be so much trash that is pilling up in our oceans. If we dont want all of the plant and animal life in the ocean dying off we need to stop polluting the ocean so we do not put more toxins in the oceans that what we already have. We should also attempt to do a clean up of the oceans.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/science/10patch.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
Lindsey Hoshaw
November 9, 2009