Ocean current

What is the importance of plankton in oceans and food chains? Plankton are essential in oceans and food chains worldwide. Phytoplankton specifically, are the primary producers providing food for Zooplankton, which together they formulate the foundation of the oceanic food chain. They are also a vital food source for larger animals.Phytoplankton are responsible for most of the transfer of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to the ocean. What is the difference between phytoplankton and…

Foraminifera can be an indicator for the carbon cycle The changes in ocean chemistry can impact calcifying organisms in a negative way. Plankton that calcifies are a key player in the marine carbon cycle. Recent studies have been done with a tiny-shelled organism that suggests changes in the global carbon cycle. This is the first study that has been done with high CO2 that shows a combination of shell building problems, physiological stress, and spine repair in foraminifera. For this study,…

Increased ocean acidification isn’t the only thing affecting the ocean, but it is very problematic because it erodes aragonite which is a mineral of calcium carbonate. In other words it kills corals and causes the hard exoskeleton to erode. Action needs to be taken to ensure the survival of corals and the creatures that rely on coral reefs to survive. Coral reefs are sources of food for millions of people, but also are sources of medicines. As coral reefs disappear so do the organisms that are…

The airplane was crowded and unbearable. As if being confined tightly with a bunch of strangers wasn’t enough, I’m extremely motion-sick. I had to keep reminding myself that the grueling plane ride will all be worth it just to see the big, beautiful ocean and to try new, exciting things. After many hours of travelling, my family and I finally arrived in the Dominican Republic; our luxurious home for the next seven days. It was much hotter than I expected. The sweltering heat caused many…

Researchers have created filtering machines to help reduce carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. Also, researchers are thinking of artificially enhancing the growth of phytoplankton; which absorb nearly the same rate of carbon dioxide from the ocean and the atmosphere as land plants do. However, others argue that both of these can have severe consequences and possibly cause more harm. “Washing carbon out of the air” by Klaus Lackner is about machines that could help reduce and…

I finish talking, 36,000kgs, or 6 rubbish trucks worth of rubbish, mostly plastic will be dumped into the ocean. By this time tomorrow, 5000 people will have died from drinking contaminated water. Do you want to be remembered as part of the species that killed the earth? At this rate, that’s how it’s going to become. Over 30 billion tons of urban sewage is dumped into lakes, rivers and oceans every year! According to Food and Water Watch, approximately 3.5 billion people in 2025 will face water…

Their breeding and migration patterns, along with the seasonality of their location of remains consistent year after year (Golet et al. 391). Bluefin tuna, like many fish, depend on ocean environmental factors such as temperature, currents, and presence of other organisms to navigate the endless open ocean. The complex interaction of these factors guides Atlantic bluefin tuna to their core breeding grounds along the Western shelf break region of the Gulf of Mexico and the Balearic Sea off the…

C: The MAR is a vital piece of the Ccaribbean area because of the benefits it provides to oceanic life and the people living in coastal cities and towns. E: The reef is home to over five hundred aquatic species,, but this is only 10 % of the ocean is currently discovered, leaving 90% waiting to be researched (Barbezat). The reef is home to many endangered species, including, one of them being Whale Sharks. E: Although Whale Sharks also reside in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, if they were to…

“Will you look at us just screaming along” I paused considering the strong current pushing us. “Wanna wind it up a notch and see how fast we can get this baby going?” Captain sat per minute and then reached for the throttle. We both watched the speed pick up slowly but surely, as we cruised along at full throttle for a few minutes. As we reached 14.9 knots, with excitement in my voice I said “This is probably the fastest this boat has ever gone! We sat on the bridge soaking in the fresh air…

Discovering a new world below the ocean intrigues me. I have never been one for loving ocean creatures, but I do enjoy learning about the world below us. I found several facts interesting as I read the articles including: how osmosis and salinity functions, how seawater cells move, how pH affects the ocean, how decomposition works in the environment, how upwelling stirs up nutrients, and how water temperature affects organisms. One of the interesting facts discusses why osmosis and salinity…