Our Blue Planet Flashcards
(18 cards)
How important is our ocean?
Very important, home to 80% of all life, produces more than 50% of world’s oxygen, protein source for more than 3 billion people, there are 40 million people in ocean based jobs, 90% of trade transported by sea
What is an ecosystem?
Community of plants and animals that share a main living environment
Where are kelp forests located?
They are very widespread, west coast of UK and Ireland, south coast of Africa, coasts of USA and Canada, west coast of South America, east coast of Russia, west and south Australia
What is kelp?
Large brown seaweed that forms dense underwater forests
What are the benefits of kelp forest ecosystems?
Absorbs CO2 which reduces climate change, produces oxygen, kelp is used in things like food and medicine, creates employment opportunities as attracts tourists
What are the disadvantages of kelp forest ecosystems?
Very sensitive to temperature and light, short lifespan, can take long time/never recover from degrading
What is degradation?
Destruction
What is coral?
Calcium carbonate upon which coral reefs are built
What are coral reefs?
Community of living organisms made up of plants and fish that is built on coral e.g. barrier reefs, fringing reefs
Where are coral reefs located?
Usually found in tropical oceans, found in 109 countries e.g. Australia, Madagascar, India
Where do coral reefs grow best?
Clear shallow water, 23-29 degrees
What are the benefits of coral reefs?
They are natural barriers of coastlines and protect them from erosion and tsunamis, supports jobs and local economies, traps CO2
What are the disadvantages of coral reefs?
Sensitive to temperature and pollution, takes decades/never recover from damage, grow slowly
What is the impact of rising sea levels?
Cities near coasts e.g. Mumbai, Dhaka, New York face greater risk of water damage, some islands ad coastal regions may completely disappear such as parts of the Maldives or Bangladesh, millions may become climate refugees which would cause social and political tensions, government could have to spend billions on barriers to this
What is a tsunami?
Very long travelling ocean waves
Name some causes of tsunamis?
Tectonic plates suddenly shift which can displace large amounts of water, underwater or coastal volcanic eruptions, landslides into sea from cliffs or mountains can rapidly displace water
What was the cause of the 2004 Indonesia tsunami?
Due to subduction of Indian Plate beneath Burman Plate, a massive amount of water was displaced, triggering a powerful underwater earthquake which itself displaced water
What were the effects of the 2004 Indonesia tsunami?
Hundreds of thousands were killed, affecting Indonesia and Sri Lanka the most, over a million people were displaced, over 15 billion dollars of property damage, many coastal ecosystems were destroyed, waterborne diseases like cholera spread
