https://padlet.com/18dunstonj/ayifpirbsvpq en-us 2017-10-26 13:34:47 UTC 2018-05-17 15:08:49 UTC hello@padlet.com 18dunstonj https://padlet.com/18dunstonj/ayifpirbsvpq/wish/203688960 The issue of ocean pollution has worsened as more and more plastic is being "disposed of" in the ocean. Recently, people have began to discover that even coral is eating plastic. These organisms sense the plastic "food" with their receptors and can't differentiate it from their normal diet foods. Chemicals used to make the plastic cause this inability to recognize the plastic as a non-food item. The plastic can get stuck in the corals' digestive system and affects their health. This article should bring even more awareness to the ocean contamination issue. If humans didn't use as many plastic products and instead used biodegradable materials and recycled more, we wouldn't be faced with this issue. Instead of focusing on ways to stop the plastic from mimicking the corals' diet as Mr. Seymour stated, why not solve the problem the right way by reducing plastic use?]]> 2017-11-05 21:44:29 UTC https://padlet.com/18dunstonj/ayifpirbsvpq/wish/203688960 18dunstonj https://padlet.com/18dunstonj/ayifpirbsvpq/wish/203695278 The issue of climate change is a multi-headed monster. Not only does it have effects on the terrestrial environment, but also the aquatic environment. Specifically, coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef has become a major issue as water temperatures increase. The ever increasing carbon emissions by humans are creating an excess amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, raising the air and water temperature. In excess heat, coral is forced to repel toxins created by algae, consequently causing the coral bleaching. This bleaching is causing significant amounts of the Great Barrier Reef to die. Only 9% of the reef hasn't been affected and the reef is unlikely to return to its normal, lively state as climate change intensifies. This could potentially cause to the ultimate destruction of the reef and the loss of thousands of reef species. This should direct society's attention to the issue of climate change. If we don't reduce carbon emissions and burning of fossil fuels, we could see a devastating change in our world. Humanity needs to continue focusing on the development of alternative energy sources to prevent these problems from worsening.]]> 2017-11-05 22:46:49 UTC https://padlet.com/18dunstonj/ayifpirbsvpq/wish/203695278 18dunstonj https://padlet.com/18dunstonj/ayifpirbsvpq/wish/203696629 Over the last century, humans using bromine and chlorine has depleted the ozone layer of the atmosphere. Specifically, an ozone layer hole has been increasing above Antarctica since it was identified in 1985. In 1987, the use of these chemicals was mandated to be lessened. As these chemicals' presence is reduced in the atmosphere, the ozone layer is healing.  This year, the ozone hole was down over 1 million square miles from last year. While the hole size seems to be depleting as a result of our efforts, it may just be a result of the Antarctic Vortex. We need to, as a society, continue to monitor the effect that we have on the environment and atmosphere. If we do limit the amount of chlorine and bromine in the atmosphere, the ozone hole could potentially shrink almost back to the healthy numbers seen decades ago. This is also representative of other environmental issues. If we consciously work towards bettering the environment and limiting the effect we have on the atmosphere, we could greatly improve the health of our Earth and the potential for a healthy future.]]> 2017-11-05 22:58:45 UTC https://padlet.com/18dunstonj/ayifpirbsvpq/wish/203696629 18dunstonj https://padlet.com/18dunstonj/ayifpirbsvpq/wish/203698187 The Totten Glacier is one of the largest glaciers in Antarctica. It is held in place by the Totten Ice Shelf. As surface winds increasingly become more intense as a result of climate change, they cause the warm water to rise and affect the ice shelf from below. This is causing the important ice shelf to slowly melt. If the Totten Glacier was to be released into the ocean by a melted Totten Shelf, we could see global sea level potentially increase up to 3.5 meters. All over Antarctica, glaciers and shelves are melting at an increasingly alarming rate. We need to prevent this from happening by becoming more environmentally sound. The increased intensity of surface winds are caused by global warming, so if we limit the effects we have on the environment, we could avoid issues like the melting of the glaciers. If we continue our current environmental practices, however, our world could be devastated by the heightened sea levels and damaged Earth.]]> 2017-11-05 23:15:23 UTC https://padlet.com/18dunstonj/ayifpirbsvpq/wish/203698187 18dunstonj https://padlet.com/18dunstonj/ayifpirbsvpq/wish/203700410 Killer whale population in European seas has been declining. These species have almost been driven to the point of extinction originally by widespread whaling practices, but now the face an equally serious problem. Man-made chemicals have been leaching into the bodies of water and affecting the whales' health. Specifically, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are threatening the survival of the whales. When exposed to PCBs, whales become infertile. This makes it impossible to replenish the already diminished population of killer whales in Europe. Despite the ban of PCBs in the US in 1979 and the UK in 1981, it still leaches into bodies of water today. Up to 90% of it hasn't been disposed of yet and is slowly making its way to aquatic ecosystems. Although some areas contain healthy pods of dolphins such as Kvaløya, the health of whales and other marine species is in jeopardy as a result of human pollution. As a society, we should focus on reducing the amount of pollutants we unleash on the environment. These chemicals serve as a great detriment to environments and the survival of species like the killer whales. If we, as a society, could eventually eliminate harmful pollutants, we could see thriving environments and a growth in near-extinct species' population.]]> 2017-11-05 23:37:27 UTC https://padlet.com/18dunstonj/ayifpirbsvpq/wish/203700410 18dunstonj https://padlet.com/18dunstonj/ayifpirbsvpq/wish/203701997 Japan has very little access to natural fossil fuels and is consequently the third highest importer of fossil fuels in the world. Recently, Japan has been working to extract methane-bearing gas hydrates in order to power the country's energy. These hydrates are abundant all around Japan in the seas and Pacific Ocean and contain the most energy of any source in the world. The Nankai Trough is specifically being targeted as the best potential source to acquire the hydrates. If Japan were to develop a way to obtain massive amounts of the hydrates, they could power their country for only a decade, relying only on the hydrates. This shows the potential success we, as a society, could have with reliance on alternative energy sources. As we shift away from the use of fossil fuels, we can improve not only energy efficiency, but also the health of the planet. Using alternative energy sources is a vital step towards combating issues like climate change.]]> 2017-11-05 23:55:55 UTC https://padlet.com/18dunstonj/ayifpirbsvpq/wish/203701997