In 2008, researchers used satellite images and modeling software to make a complete portrait of human effects on the ocean which in a way is a X ray of the ocean. Five years later they did it again, in order to get complete view of an ocean in transition. They discovered that “two-thirds of the ocean shows increased strain from human-related factors, such as fishing and climate change and more than three-quarters of coastal waters suffer from climate change and increases in the effects of harmful land-based activities, including pollution.” Overall, they conclude that about 40 percent of the ocean is “heavily impacted” by human activity. Biologist Ben Halpern says that the growing population is partly to be blamed. This makes since as some of the darkest spots on the map are in the East China and North Seas while others are mostly in the Northern hemisphere where 90 percent of humans live. On a brighter side, however, parts of the North Atlantic have seen reduced impact due to new regulations and more fuel efficient ships. It wasn’t very surprising to me that the ocean is heavily impacted by human activities, but it is also nice to figure out that human impact has reduced in some areas. The data reveals that we have increased concern about the environment, but there is still a long way to go. Also, it does not seem like a clean environment is being encouraged under the Trump administration and this may pose a large push-back on environmental progress. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/04/explore-human-impact-on-oceans/
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May 2017
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