How Important Are The Oceans

There is so much that we really don't know about our oceans. New species are sometimes found in our oceans but really there so much area to investigate under the deep blue ocean we may never know all the secrets hidden beneath the waters. Looking at some of these amazing facts is just full of surprises.

1. No museum on land can compare to our oceans as to what lies below the surface is more artifacts than every museum combined worldwide.
2. There has been less than five percent of the oceans explored.
3. At 35,000 miles long is the longest mountain range under the water the Mid-Oceanic Ridge. It runs through the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, right into the Indian Ocean and through the Pacific Ocean.
4. Ocean water at one milliliter is equal to a one million bacteria germs and ten million viruses.
   
5. Tubeworms, octopuses, and crabs can swim about in the ocean depth where the pressure would crush a ship.
6. At fifty-five mph at speeds underwater, a penguin can travel with ease.
7. The quickest growing plant is the Giant Kelp which can grow up to two feet a day if the conditions are right.
8. Traveling more 1,400 miles to migrate and lay their eggs is the green turtles.

Does the ocean have an effect on the weather? Yes, the ocean does affect the weather as back in 1997 - 1998 the El NiZo caused problems worldwide. The kinds of problems it caused were harvested failure, droughts, heavy rains, floods, fires, and landslides but the source was when periodic warm water shifted from the western to eastern Pacific Ocean.

In 1737 at the Siberia's Kamchatka Peninsula received a tsunami's that was 210 feet above sea level due to earthquakes and other disturbances undersea. Thermal energy in the ocean top ten feet held the same amount worldwide. The ocean stores much of the solar energy the reaches the earth. Climate patterns and the weather the oceans is responsible as it has an important role in determining the outcome.

The oceans have become polluted through the many years and the problem is only getting worse. Pollution is killing off the marine life and destroying the oceans. Plastic is a serious problem along with other factors such as oil spills, toxic waste among other issues. Pollution problems in the oceans are:

• Large amounts of trash and waste are dumped into the ocean daily. No matter how far from land it's dumped it still affects everything in its path as it makes it back to shore.
• Marine animals consider plastic as a source of food which is harmful and can cause death.
• Large items are dumped into the ocean such as cars, septic tanks, oil, dirt.
• Pollution kills one thousand sea mammals a year, over a million seabirds a year, three hundred thousand porpoises and dolphin a year. A lot of marine life affected.
• Pacific ocean, has an island twice as large as Texas that is nothing but trash.
• Marine mammals eat plastic that has absorbed toxins from different kinds metal can die as it poisons them.

Rinkesh Kukreja (Writer - Website: Conserve Energy Future) states"Until 1970’s, the chemicals and garbage was deliberately dumped into the oceans and became as common practice for disposing everything including pesticides and radioactive waste, assuming that it would get dissolved to safe levels."

1. All over the world, variety of fish, lobsters, crabs, oysters, mussels, supplies a meat source.
2. Construction of buildings, manufacture, of concrete, by using the resources of sand and gravel from the oceans. 13 tons of sand and gravel is used every year by the United Kingdom, can you image what is used by the whole world.
3. Mining from the deep ocean products supplies such as copper, nickel, gold, cobalt, zinc and manganese while these resources can be limited on land.
4. Medicine such as pain-killers, plastic, oil, chemicals, man-made fibers, fertilizers, rubber, fuel, cancer medicine and so much more.
5. We even get gas, food-processing, chemical production, central heating, renewable energy plus more.

The list is much longer than what I listed but just to give an idea of what some the benefits are. The beaches attract tourist who vacation and help support the communities in the area. Coral reef provides marine habitat which enables fish to find food while also providing hiding area for smaller fish. Tourist like to scuba dive to see the wonders of the ocean. Just how wonderful it is to go sailing or spend a week on a cruise ship, that the ocean provides that benefit.

1. cardinalfish, Banggai ((Pteropogon kauderni) Threaten / Foreign
2. Tanzanian Threaten / Foreign
3. cardinalfish, Banggai (Pteropogon kauderni) Threaten / Foreign

Somewhere around 2,245 species are listed as endangered or threatened lists under the ESA. Some are only found outside the United States about 650 species.

"Species Description Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Weight: 220-315 pounds (100-143 kg) Length: 5-7.5 feet (1.6-2.3 m) Appearance: dark gray and heavily spotted, as adults Lifespan: unknown; sexually mature between 8-15 years Diet: small fish, benthic invertebrates, and cephalopods, like squid and octopus Behavior: usually found in groups of fewer than 50 individuals"

References:

• Jefferson, T. A, M. A. Webber, and R. L. Pitman. (2008). Marine Mammals of the World, A Comprehensive Guide to their Identification. Amsterdam, Elsevier. p. 228-231.
• Shirihai, H. and B. Jarrett (2006). Whales, Dolphins and Other Marine Mammals of the World. Princeton, Princeton University Press. p. 192-194.

Updated: January 2, 2015

"Species Description Fraser's Dolphin

Weight: 350-450 pounds (160-210 kg) Length: 6-9 feet (2-2.7 m) Appearance: stocky body and a small distinct beak, small dorsal fin, smaller flippers and flukes than other dolphin species; distinct black or dark gray stripe that extends from their eye to their flipper Lifespan: 18 years or more Diet: deep sea species of mesopelagic fish, crustaceans (like shrimp), and cephalopods (like squid and octopus) Behavior: usually found in large tight groups averaging between 10-100 individuals"

References:

• Jefferson, T. A, M. A. Webber, and R. L. Pitman. (2008). Marine Mammals of the World, A Comprehensive Guide to their Identification. Amsterdam, Elsevier. p. 253-256.
• Shirihai, H. and B. Jarrett (2006). Whales, Dolphins and Other Marine Mammals of the World. Princeton, Princeton University Press. p.197-198.

Updated: January 15, 2015

Ancient Lobe Coral:

• Over 500 years old
• Enric Sala Marine ecologist discovered the coral.
• Located at Kingman Reef (one of the most unspoiled reef ecosystems)
• Lagoon is the size of Manhatten Island (triangle in shape 30 miles)
• Rare - where rapacious fishes reign and prey hides.

Pygmy Sea Horse and Coral (Hippocampus bargibant)

• Transparent not colorful (algae is where the color comes from)
• Is a Coral polyps
• Adaptable to a colorful environment.
• Color is used for camouflage to be the hunter or hunted

Broccoli Coral

• Yellowish stalks (is just one of the many coral shapes)
• The corals are formed by countless, shell of deceased predecessors and millions of tiny coral polyps.

Mushroom Coral

• The only coral to feed on jellyfish
• The only coral to have a technicolor mouth.