The Pacific Ocean is the largest body of water on Earth. Its area is about 180 million square kilometers, which also includes numerous seas. As a result of strong anthropogenic impact, millions of tons of water are systematically polluted with both household waste and chemicals.
garbage pollution
Despite the huge area, the Pacific Ocean is actively used by man. Industrial fishing, shipping, mining, recreational recreation and even nuclear weapons testing are carried out here. All this, as usual, is accompanied by the release of a wide range of substances and objects.
In itself, the movement of the vessel on the water surface leads to the appearance of exhaust from diesel engines above it. In addition, complex mechanisms such as ships rarely do without leakage of operating fluids. And if engine oil is unlikely to leak from a cruise ship, then from hundreds of thousands of old fishing boats it is easy.
Nowadays, a rare person thinks about the problem of throwing garbage out the window. Moreover, this is typical not only for Eurasia, but also for residents of other countries. As a result, garbage is thrown from the decks of motor ships, cruisers, seiners and other ships. Plastic bottles, bags, packaging residues do not dissolve in water, do not decompose and do not sink. They just float on the surface and get pulled together by the currents.
The largest collection of debris in the ocean is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This is a huge “island” of all kinds of solid waste, covering an area of \u200b\u200babout a million square kilometers. It was formed thanks to currents that bring garbage from different areas of the ocean to one place. Every year the area of the oceanic garbage dump is growing.
Technological accidents as a source of pollution
Oil tanker wrecks are a typical source of chemical pollution in the Pacific Ocean. This is a type of vessel designed to carry large volumes of oil. In any emergency situations related to the depressurization of the ship’s cargo tanks, oil products get into the water.
The largest oil pollution in the Pacific occurred in 2010. Underwater pipelines were damaged due to an explosion and fire on an oil platform operating in the Gulf of Mexico. In total, more than seven billion tons of oil were thrown into the water. The area of pollution was 75,000 square kilometers.
Poaching
In addition to various pollution, humanity directly changes the flora and fauna of the Pacific Ocean. As a result of mindless mining, some species of animals and plants are completely exterminated. For example, back in the 18th century, the last “sea cow” was killed an animal similar to a seal and living in the waters of the Bering Sea. The same fate almost befell some species of whales and fur seals. Now strict regulatory frameworks are imposed on the extraction of these animals.
Illegal fishing is also taking a toll on the Pacific. The number of marine life here is colossal, but modern technologies make it possible to catch large volumes in a specific area in a short period of time. When fishing is carried out during the spawning period, self-recovery of the population can become problematic.
In general, the Pacific Ocean is under anthropogenic pressure with classic negative impacts. Here, as well as on land, there is pollution with garbage and chemicals, as well as the mass destruction of the animal world.
