ocean - is the cradle of life, a source of oxygen and the well-being of many people.For centuries it was inexhaustible wealth and belonged to all countries and people.But the twentieth century has placed everything in its place - were the coastal border areas, maritime laws, problems and possible solutions.
Legal aspects of the use of ocean resources
until the seventies of the twentieth century, it was found that the wealth of the ocean belong to all, and territorial claims of coastal States may extend no more than three nautical miles.Formally, the law is observed, but in fact, many states have declared their claims on large marine area, up to two hundred nautical miles from shore.The problem of the use of the oceans has been reduced to make the most profitable to exploit the coastal economic zones.Many states have declared their sovereignty over maritime territories and the invasion of those regarded as trespassing.Thus, the problem of development of the oceans, the use of its opportunities faced mercantile interests of individual states.
In 1982, the Conference was convened on the Law of the Sea, which was held under the auspices of the UN.It addresses the major challenges of the oceans.As a result of many days of negotiations, it was decided that the ocean - it is the common heritage of mankind.For states were fixed dvuhsotmilnye coastal economic areas that these countries have the right to use for commercial purposes.Such economic zones occupied about 40 percent of the total area of water expanses.The bottom of the open ocean, its natural resources and economic resources were declared the common property.To monitor compliance with this provision created a special committee to regulate the use of coastal economic zones, which was divided Oceans.The problems that arise in the human impact on the marine environment, should be addressed by their governments.As a result, the principle of free use of the high seas no longer be used.
impossible to overestimate the importance of the transport system in the Earth's Oceans.Global issues relating to freight and passenger transport, decided by the use of special courts, and the problem of transportation of oil and gas - by pipeline.
Mining is carried on the shelves of the coastal countries, especially intensively developed gas fields and oil.Sea water contains a lot of salt solutions, rare metals and organic compounds.Huge concretions - concentrated reserves of rare earth metals, iron and manganese - lie on the ocean floor in deep water.The problems of ocean resources consist in how to get these resources from the seabed without disrupting ecosystems.Finally, low-cost water desalination plants can solve the most important of human problems - the shortage of drinking water.Ocean water is an excellent solvent, so Oceans works as a huge processing plant waste.But oceanic tides have been successfully used to generate electricity in the PRES.
Since time immemorial, the ocean to feed the people.Production of fish and shellfish, seaweed and shellfish gathering - the ancient craft that emerged at the dawn of civilization.Since fishing tools and principles have not changed.Significantly increased only scale production of living resources.
With all of this is the full use of ocean resources significantly affects the state of the marine environment.It is possible that extensive model of economic activity significantly reduce its ability to self-cleaning and recycling of waste.Therefore, the global problem of the use of the oceans is to carefully exploit all that it provides to humanity, does not degrade while its environmental health.
Environmental aspects of the use of ocean resources
Oceans - is a huge generator of oxygen in nature.The main producer of this important life-chemical elements are microscopic blue-green algae.In addition, ocean - Powerful filters and fire ladder, which processes and recycles waste products of humans.The failure of this unique natural mechanism to deal with waste disposal - a real environmental problem.The pollution of the oceans is happening in most cases the fault of the person.
main causes of ocean pollution:
- inadequately treated, which are subject to the industrial and domestic waste water into rivers and the sea.
- Wastewater entering the world's oceans from the fields and forests.They contain fertilizers, which are difficult to decompose in the marine environment.
- Dumping - constantly replenished burial at the bottom of the seas and oceans of various pollutants.
- Leaking fuel and oils with a variety of sea and river vessels.
- Repeated failure of pipelines, runs at the bottom.
- Rubbish and waste resulting from the extraction of minerals in the shelf zone and on the seabed.
- Precipitation containing a harmful substance.
If you collect all the pollutants that pose a threat to the world's oceans, we can highlight the problem described below.
Dumping
dumping called dumping of human economic activity in the world's oceans.Environmental problems occur because of an overabundance of such waste.The reason that this type of waste has become common is the fact that the sea water has a high dissolving properties.Sea burials are subject to waste mining and metallurgical industry, municipal waste, construction waste, radionuclides, which arise in the activities of nuclear power plants, chemical substances, with varying degrees of toxicity.
During passage of contaminants through the water a certain percentage of waste dissolves in seawater and change its chemical composition.The transparency of its falls, it gets her unusual color and smell.The remaining dirt particles are deposited on the sea or ocean floor.These deposits lead to the fact that the composition of soil varies bottom, there are such compounds as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia.The high content of organic matter in the ocean waters leads to disruption of the oxygen balance, which entails a reduction in the number of microorganisms and algae, which recycle the waste.Many substances form a film on the water surface, which break the gas exchange at the water-air.Harmful substances dissolved in water, tend to accumulate in the bodies of marine life.Populations of fish, crustaceans and molluscs are reduced, and the body begins to change.Therefore the problem of the use of the oceans is that effectively apply the properties of the marine environment as a giant of the recycling mechanism.
radioactive contamination
Radionuclides - substances which appear as a result of nuclear power plants.Oceans became a storehouse of containers that contain highly radioactive waste of nuclear power.Substances transuranium groups remain active for several thousand years.Although highly hazardous wastes are packaged in hermetically sealed containers, the risk of radioactive contamination is very high.The material from which the containers are made constantly exposed to sea water.After some time, the capacity allowed to flow, and hazardous substances in small quantities, but always fall into the oceans.Problems reburial of waste are global in nature: according to statistics, in the eighties took on the bottom of the deep storage of about 7 thousand. Tons of harmful substances.At present threat are those wastes that were buried in the waters of the oceans of 30-40 years ago.
pollution by noxious substances
Toxic chemicals include aldrin, dieldrin, DDT species, other derivatives of chlorine elements.In some regions there is a high concentration of arsenic and zinc.The level of pollution of the seas and oceans detergents also alarming.Detergents are called surfactants, which are part of the household chemical products.Together with the flow of the rivers, these compounds fall into the oceans, where the process of recycling going on for decades.A sad example of the high activity of chemical warfare agents is the mass extinction of birds off the coast of Ireland.As it turned out, the reason for this were the polihloridfenilovye compounds that fall into the sea together with industrial wastewater.Thus, the environmental problems of the oceans and touched the world of terrestrial inhabitants.
Contamination with heavy metals
is primarily lead, cadmium and mercury.Its toxic properties of these metals remain for centuries.These elements are widely used in heavy industry.The factories and mills there are different cleaning techniques, but despite this, many of these substances from the wastewater falls into the ocean.For marine organisms pose the greatest threat of mercury and lead.The main ways of getting them into the ocean - industrial wastes, exhausts of cars, smoke and dust of industrial enterprises.Not all states understand the importance of this issue.Oceans are not able to process heavy metals, and they fall into the tissue of fish, crustaceans and molluscs.Since many of the sea creatures are objects of fishing, heavy metals and their compounds they get into the food to the people, causing severe illness, which are not always treatable.
oil-polluted
Oil - is a complex organic carbon, heavy liquid of dark brown color.The biggest environmental problems of the oceans caused by oil spills.In the eighties they flowed into the ocean about 16 million tonnes. This accounted for 0.23% of world oil production at that time.In most cases the product gets into the ocean leaks from pipelines.High concentrations of oil along the busiest shipping lanes.This is due to emergencies that occur on transport ships, draining and flushing of ballast water from ships offshore.Masters of vessels are responsible for avoiding this situation.After all, in connection with her problems.Oceans and polluted by infiltration of the product of the developed deposits - in fact a large number of platforms located on the shelf and at sea.The waste water is carried in an ocean of liquid industrial waste, in such a way in the sea water appears about 0.5 million tons of oil per year.
in ocean water product dissolves slowly.First, it spreads over the surface of a thin layer.The oil film blocks the penetration of sunlight and oxygen in the sea water, thereby deteriorating heat transfer.The product water forms two types of emulsions - the "oil in water" and "water in oil".Both emulsions are very resistant to external influences;spot formed them roam freely in the ocean with the help of ocean currents, settle to the bottom layers and beaching.Destruction of such emulsions, or create the conditions for further processing - this is also the solution of problems of the oceans in the context of oil pollution.
Thermal pollution
problem of thermal pollution is less noticeable in nature.However, over time, changes in temperature balance currents and coastal waters violates the life cycles of marine life, which is so rich Oceans.The global problems associated with warming, arise from the fact that the high temperature water discharged from enterprises and power plants.Liquid cooling is a natural source different processes.The thickness of the heated water disrupts the natural heat in the marine environment, which significantly reduces the level of oxygen in the bottom layers of water.As a result, they begin to actively proliferate algae and anaerobic bacteria, which are responsible for the recycling of organic substances.
Methods for solving the problems of the oceans
Global oil pollution has forced a number of meetings at the governments of maritime nations concerned about how to preserve the oceans.Problems began to wear a threatening nature.And in the middle of the twentieth century, a number of laws that establish responsibility for the safety and purity of water in coastal areas.Global problems of the oceans partly decided the London Conference in 1973.Its solution requires every ship to have an appropriate international certificate confirming that all the machines, equipment and mechanisms are in good condition, and the ship that crosses the ocean, do not harm the environment.The changes were made and construction vehicles carrying oil.The new rules require modern tankers have a double bottom.Was completely banned draining polluted water from oil tankers, cleaning of such vessels should be done in specific areas of port.But recently, scientists have developed a special emulsion that cleans oil tankers without resetting the contaminated water.
And occasional oil spills in the waters can be eliminated with the help of floating oil skimmers and a variety of side fences.
Global problems of the oceans, especially oil pollution, attracted the attention of scientists.For this you need to do something.Liquidation of oil spills in the waters - the main problem of the world's oceans.Ways of solving this problem include both physical and chemical methods.Already, various foams unsinkable and other substances that may collect about 90% of stains.In the future, the oil-soaked material is collected, it is pushed out of the product.Layers of such materials may be used repeatedly, they have a relatively low cost and very effective in collecting oil from a large area.
Japanese scientists have developed a product based on rice husk.This substance is sprayed on the area of the oil spill and collect all the oil in the short term.Thereafter, a block of material impregnated with the product, can catch a conventional fishing net.
interesting method was developed by American scientists to eliminate those spots in the Atlantic Ocean.Under the oil spill sinks thin ceramic plate with attached acoustic element.Last vibrates thick layer of oil accumulates and begins to gush over the ceramic plane.Fountain of oil and dirty water is ignited by an electric current applied to the plate.The product thus burnt without causing any harm to the environment.
In 1993, a law was passed banning ocean dumping of liquid radioactive waste (LRW).Projects on recycling these wastes were developed in the mid-90s of the last century.But if a fresh dumping of liquid radioactive waste is prohibited by law, the old warehouses of used radioactive substances, which rest on the ocean floor since the mid 50s, a serious problem.
Results
Massive pollution increased the risk of the use of natural resources that abound in the oceans.Issues relating to the conservation of natural cycles and ecosystems require quick and correct decisions.The steps taken by scientists and governments of the leading countries of the world, show the human desire to preserve the wealth of the oceans for future generations.
In today's world, human impact on the natural cycle is decisive, so any measures corrective anthropogenic processes should be timely and sufficient for the preservation of the natural environment.A special role in the study of human impact on the ocean plays a constant monitoring, based on long-term observations of the living organism called the World Ocean.Environmental problems arising from all types of human impacts on the water, the study of marine ecology.
All variety of problems requires the introduction of uniform principles of common steps that should be taken at the same time all the countries concerned.
