Oil Pollution
Overview
The world still runs on oil, and every day enormous quantities are drilled from beneath the seabed and carried across the oceans in giant tankers. Most of it arrives safely. But when something goes wrong, the results can be catastrophic: a single spill can blacken hundreds of kilometres of coast, kill countless seabirds and fish, and damage ecosystems for years. Oil pollution is one of the most visible and emotive of all environmental disasters.
In this lesson you will learn what causes oil to enter the sea, how a spill spreads and devastates marine and coastal life, and the two sides of the response: preventing spills in the first place through better ships and rules, and minimising the damage when one happens, using booms, skimmers, dispersants and controlled burning. Named disasters such as Deepwater Horizon will make the scale of the problem real.
Objectives
- 3.5.1 Describe the causes of oil pollution on marine and coastal ecosystems, limited to: (a) off-shore and on-shore oil extraction (b) pipelines (c) shipping (d) cleaning of tanks at sea (e) refineries.
- 3.5.2 Describe the impacts of oil pollution on marine and coastal ecosystems, limited to the effects on: (a) birds (b) marine mammals (c) fish (d) crustaceans (e) seaweeds (f) coral reefs (g) beaches. Knowledge of specific species is not required.
- 3.5.3 Describe strategies for oil spill prevention in marine and coastal ecosystems, limited to: (a) MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) (b) double-hulled oil tankers (c) risk assessments (d) regular maintenance.
- 3.5.4 Describe strategies for minimising the impacts of oil spills on marine and coastal ecosystems, limited to: (a) improved navigation systems for ships (b) booms and sorbents (c) detergent sprays (d) skimmers (e) controlled burning.
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Oil Pollution. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which of these is a cause of marine oil pollution? A. eutrophication B. cleaning of ships' tanks at sea C. desalination D. chlorination Answer: B
- Crude oil spilled at sea mostly: A. sinks to the seabed B. dissolves instantly C. floats and forms a surface slick D. evaporates completely Answer: C
- A double-hulled tanker helps to: A. clean up a spill faster B. prevent oil escaping in a collision C. disperse the oil slick D. burn the oil off Answer: B
- Which device is a floating barrier used to contain an oil slick? A. skimmer B. sorbent C. boom D. dispersant Answer: C
- Why does an oil slick harm phytoplankton? A. it makes the water too salty B. it blocks the light they need to photosynthesise C. it lowers the temperature D. it adds nutrients Answer: B
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