Global problems of humanity using the world's oceans. The impact of environmental disasters on the planet's oceans

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MINSK BRANCH

STATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION OF HIGHER PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION "MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS, STATISTICS AND INFORMATION (MESI)"

discipline: "Environmental management"

Topic: "Ecological problems of the World Ocean"

Minsk, 2014

Introduction

Water is the most abundant inorganic compound, the "most important mineral" on Earth. Water is the basis of all life processes, the only source of oxygen in the main driving process on Earth - photosynthesis. Plants are 90% and animals are 75% water. Loss of 10 - 20% of water by a living organism leads to its death. A person dies without water on the eighth day. Aqueous solutions are a necessary condition for the migration of most chemical elements; only in the presence of water do complex reactions occur within organisms. And finally, water is necessary for many aspects of human economic activity - industry, agriculture, transport. Suffice it to say that almost all geographical discoveries were made by seafarers, and the development and settlement of continents was carried out mainly along waterways. And almost all the largest cities in the world arose at the end points of a river or sea route.

The world ocean, being the totality of all the seas and oceans of the Earth, has a huge impact on the life of the planet. The huge mass of ocean waters forms the planet’s climate and serves as a source of precipitation. More than half of the oxygen comes from them, and it also regulates the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere, since it is able to absorb its excess.

At the bottom of the World Ocean, a huge mass of mineral and organic substances is accumulated and transformed, therefore the geological and geochemical processes occurring in the oceans and seas have a very strong impact on the entire earth’s crust. At all stages of his development, man was closely connected with the world around him. But since the advent of a highly industrialized society, dangerous human intervention in nature has increased sharply.

Resources of the World Ocean

The world's oceans are a huge storehouse of natural resources.

The biological resources of the World Ocean are diverse. They are understood as animals and plants living in its waters - fish, shellfish, crustaceans, cetaceans, algae. About 90% of the commercial species produced are fish.

The largest part of the world's catch is caught in the waters of temperate and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. Of the oceans, the largest catch comes from the Pacific Ocean. Of the seas of the World Ocean, the most productive are the Norwegian, Bering, Okhotsk, and Japanese.

Ocean biomass includes 150 thousand species of animals and 10 thousand algae, and its total volume is estimated at 35 billion tons, which could be enough to feed 30 billion people. By catching 85-90 million tons of fish annually, which accounts for 85% of the marine products used, shellfish, algae, humanity provides about 20% of its needs for animal proteins.

The biological productivity of the World Ocean is especially great in the area of rising deep waters. One of these upwellings, located off the coast of Peru, provides 15% of the world's fish production, although its area is no more than two hundredths of a percent of the entire surface of the World Ocean.

Algae are finding increasing use. Millions of people eat them. Medicines, starch, glue are obtained from algae, paper and fabrics are made. Algae is an excellent feed for livestock and a good fertilizer.

The mineral resources of the World Ocean are solid, liquid and gaseous minerals. Coastal sea placers contain zirconium, gold, platinum, and diamonds. The depths of the shelf zone are rich in oil and gas. They account for 90% of all resources obtained today from the seabed. Offshore oil production accounts for approximately 1/3 of the total volume. The main oil production areas are the Persian, Mexican, and Guinea Gulfs, the coast of Venezuela, and the North Sea. There are offshore oil and gas bearing areas in the Bering and Okhotsk seas. Iron ore (off the coast of Kyushu, in Hudson Bay), coal (Japan, Great Britain), and sulfur (USA) are mined from underwater subsoil.

On the shelf and partly on the continental slope of the ocean there are large deposits of phosphorites that can be used as fertilizers, and the reserves will last for the next few hundred years. The most interesting type of mineral raw materials in the World Ocean are the famous ferromanganese nodules, which cover vast underwater plains. Nodules are a kind of “cocktail” of metals: they include copper, cobalt, nickel, titanium, vanadium, but, of course, most of all iron and manganese. Their locations are generally known, but the results of industrial development are still very modest.

Biological and mineral resources are exhaustible.

Their uncontrolled use has endangered the existence of marine mammals and led to a significant reduction in the number of fish.

Sea water is also a resource of the World Ocean. It contains about 75 chemical elements. About 1/3 of the world's table salt, 60% of magnesium, 90% of bromine and potassium are extracted from sea waters. Also, the wealth of the seas is used for the industrial production of fresh water. The largest producers of fresh water are Kuwait, USA, Japan.

Energy resources are the fundamentally available mechanical and thermal energy of the World Ocean, of which tidal energy is mainly used. Projects for using the energy of waves and currents are being developed and partially implemented.

The ocean is a giant battery and transformer of solar energy, converted into the energy of currents, heat and winds.

Energy resources are of great value as they are renewable and practically inexhaustible. The operating experience of existing ocean energy systems shows that they do not cause any significant damage to the ocean.

It, being a storehouse of various resources, is also a free and convenient road that connects continents and islands distant from each other. Maritime transport accounts for almost 80% of transport between countries, serving the growing global production and exchange.

The world's oceans can serve as a waste recycler. Thanks to the chemical and physical effects of its waters and the biological influence of living organisms, it disperses and purifies the bulk of the waste entering it, maintaining the relative balance of the Earth's ecosystems.

Over the course of 3000 years, as a result of the water cycle in nature, all the water in the World Ocean is renewed.

With intensive use of the resources of the World Ocean, its pollution occurs.

Environmental problems of the World Ocean

Ocean waters are rapidly becoming polluted. A huge amount of “dirt” is carried into the ocean from land by rivers and sewage. More than 30% of the ocean surface is covered with an oil film that is destructive to plankton. The destruction of plankton, that is, protozoa and crustaceans passively floating in water, led to a reduction in the food supply for nekton and reduced its quantity, and, consequently, reduced fish production.

The environmental consequences of pollution of the World Ocean are expressed in the following processes and phenomena:

Violation of ecosystem stability;

Progressive eutrophication;

The appearance of "red tides";

Accumulation of chemical toxicants in biota;

Decrease in biological productivity;

The occurrence of mutagenesis and carcinogenesis in the marine environment;

Microbiological pollution of coastal areas of the sea.

The industrial use of the World Ocean has led to colossal pollution, and currently this problem is one of the global ones facing all of humanity. Over the past 20 years, ocean pollution has become catastrophic.

Not the least role in this was played by the opinion about the ocean’s capabilities for self-purification.

The most dangerous pollution for the ocean is: pollution from oil and petroleum products, radioactive substances, industrial and household waste, as well as chemical fertilizers. However, there are also powerful external sources of pollution - atmospheric flows and continental runoff. As a result, today we can state the presence of pollutants not only in areas adjacent to the continents and in areas of intense shipping, but also in open parts of the oceans, including the high latitudes of the Arctic and Antarctic. It should be noted that pollution of soil, water or atmosphere also ultimately comes down to pollution of the World Ocean, since as a result all toxic substances enter it.

The rapid development of engineering and technology has led to the involvement of ocean resources in economic circulation, and its problems have become global in nature. There are a lot of these problems. They are associated with ocean pollution, a decrease in its biological productivity, and the development of mineral and energy resources. Ocean use has particularly increased in recent years, dramatically increasing the pressure on the ocean. Intensive economic activity has led to increasing water pollution. Accidents of oil tankers, drilling platforms, and the discharge of oil-contaminated water from ships have a particularly detrimental effect on the environmental situation in the World Ocean. The marginal seas are especially polluted: the North, Baltic, Mediterranean, and Persian Gulf.

According to experts, about 15 million tons of oil enter the World Ocean every year. This is due to the movements of oil tankers. In the past, the practice of flushing the holds of tankers was widely used, resulting in the release of huge quantities of oil into the ocean.

Coastal waters are mainly affected by a large number of sources of pollution: from industrial waste and sewage to intense marine traffic. This contributes to the reduction of ocean flora and fauna, and creates a serious danger for humans in the form of numerous diseases

Oil pollution of the World Ocean is undoubtedly the most widespread phenomenon. From 2 to 4% of the water surface of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans is constantly covered with an oil film. Up to 6 million tons of petroleum hydrocarbons enter sea waters annually. Almost half of this amount is associated with transportation and offshore development. Continental oil pollution enters the ocean through river runoff.

In the ocean, oil pollution comes in many forms. It can cover the surface of the water in a thin film, and during spills the thickness of the oil coating can initially be several centimeters. Over time, an emulsion of oil in water or water in oil is formed. Later, lumps of the heavy fraction of oil, oil aggregates, appear that can float on the surface of the sea for a long time. Various small animals are attached to the floating lumps of fuel oil, which fish and baleen whales readily feed on. Together with them they swallow oil. Some fish die from this, others become completely saturated with oil and become unfit for consumption due to their unpleasant smell and taste. All components of oil are toxic to marine organisms. Oil affects the community structure of marine animals. Oil pollution changes the ratio of species and reduces their diversity. Thus, microorganisms that feed on petroleum hydrocarbons develop abundantly, and the biomass of these microorganisms is toxic to many marine inhabitants.

It has been proven that long-term chronic exposure to even small concentrations of oil is very dangerous. At the same time, the primary biological productivity of the sea is gradually falling. Oil has another unpleasant side effect. Its hydrocarbons are capable of dissolving a number of other pollutants, such as pesticides and heavy metals, which, together with oil, are concentrated in the surface layer and further poison it. The largest quantities of oil are concentrated in a thin near-surface layer of sea water, which plays a particularly important role for various aspects of ocean life. Surface oil films disrupt gas exchange between the atmosphere and the ocean. The processes of dissolution and release of oxygen, carbon dioxide, heat exchange undergo changes, and the reflectivity of sea water changes. Chlorinated hydrocarbons, widely used as means of controlling agricultural and forestry pests and carriers of infectious diseases, have been entering the World Ocean along with river runoff and through the atmosphere for many decades. DDT (a chemical widely used in the 50-60s of the 20th century for pest control. A very persistent compound that can accumulate in the environment, pollute it and disrupt the biological balance in nature. Banned everywhere in the 70s) and its derivatives , polychlorinated biphenyls and other persistent compounds of this class are now found throughout the world's oceans, including the Arctic and Antarctic. They are easily soluble in fats and therefore accumulate in the organs of fish, mammals, and seabirds. Being substances of completely artificial origin, they do not have their “consumers” among microorganisms and therefore almost do not decompose under natural conditions, but only accumulate in the World Ocean. At the same time, they are acutely toxic and affect the hematopoietic system and heredity.

Along with river runoff, heavy metals also enter the ocean, many of which have toxic properties. The total river flow is 46 thousand km of water per year.

Together with it, up to 2 million tons of lead, up to 20 thousand tons of cadmium and up to 10 thousand tons of mercury enter the World Ocean. Coastal waters and inland seas have the highest levels of pollution.

The atmosphere also plays a significant role in the pollution of the World Ocean. For example, up to 30% of all mercury and 50% of lead entering the ocean each year is transported through the atmosphere. Due to its toxic effects in the marine environment, mercury is particularly dangerous. Microbiological processes convert toxic inorganic mercury into much more toxic forms of mercury. Its compounds accumulated in fish or shellfish pose a direct threat to human life and health. Mercury, cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, chromium, arsenic and other heavy metals not only accumulate in marine organisms, thereby poisoning marine food, but also have a detrimental effect on sea inhabitants. The accumulation coefficients of toxic metals, i.e. their concentration per unit weight in marine organisms relative to seawater, vary widely - from hundreds to hundreds of thousands, depending on the nature of the metals and the types of organisms. These coefficients show how harmful substances accumulate in fish, shellfish, crustaceans, planktonic and other organisms.

In some countries, under public pressure, laws have been passed prohibiting the discharge of untreated wastewater into inland waters - rivers, lakes, etc.

In order not to incur “extra expenses” for the installation of necessary structures, the monopolies found a convenient way out. They build diversion channels that carry wastewater directly to the sea, not sparing the resorts.

Dumping of waste into the sea for the purpose of burial (dumping).

A terrible threat to all life, not only in the ocean, but also on land, is posed by atomic tests at sea and the burial of radioactive waste in the depths of the sea.

Many countries with access to the sea carry out marine disposal of various materials and substances, in particular dredging soil, drilling slag, industrial waste, construction waste, solid waste, explosives and chemicals, and radioactive waste. The volume of burials amounted to about 10% of the total mass of pollutants entering the World Ocean.

The basis for dumping at sea is the ability of the marine environment to process large quantities of organic and inorganic substances without much damage to the water. However, this ability is not unlimited. Therefore, dumping is seen as a forced measure, a temporary tribute from society to the imperfection of technology. Industrial slag contains a variety of organic substances and heavy metal compounds. Household waste on average contains (by dry matter weight) 32-40% organic matter; 0.56% nitrogen; 0.44% phosphorus; 0.155% zinc; 0.085% lead; 0.001% mercury; 0.001% cadmium.

During discharge, when the material passes through a column of water, part of the pollutants goes into solution, changing the quality of the water, while the other is sorbed by suspended particles and goes into bottom sediments.

At the same time, the turbidity of the water increases. The presence of organic substances often leads to the rapid consumption of oxygen in water and often to its complete disappearance, dissolution of suspended matter, accumulation of metals in dissolved form, and the appearance of hydrogen sulfide.

The presence of a large amount of organic substances creates a stable reducing environment in the soil, in which a special type of silt water appears, containing hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and metal ions. Benthic organisms and others are affected to varying degrees by the impact of discharged materials.

The discharge of dumping materials to the bottom and prolonged increased turbidity of the water lead to the death of sedentary benthos from suffocation. In surviving fish, mollusks and crustaceans, their growth rate is reduced due to deteriorating feeding and breathing conditions. The species composition of a given community often changes.

When organizing a control system for waste discharges into the sea, identifying dumping areas and determining the dynamics of pollution of sea water and bottom sediments is of decisive importance. To identify possible volumes of discharge into the sea, it is necessary to carry out calculations of all pollutants in the material discharge.

The dumping of waste led to massive deaths of ocean inhabitants. The main sources of pollution of water bodies are enterprises of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, chemical and petrochemical, pulp and paper, and light industry. Wastewater is contaminated with minerals, salts of heavy metals (copper, lead, zinc, nickel, mercury, etc.), arsenic, chlorides, etc. Woodworking and pulp and paper industries. The main source of wastewater generation in the industry is cellulose production, based on sulfate and sulfite methods of wood pulping and bleaching. As a result of the activities of the oil refining industry, significant quantities of petroleum products, sulfates, chlorides, nitrogen compounds, phenols, salts of heavy metals, etc. entered water bodies. Suspended substances, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, nitrates, chlorides, sulfates, etc. also entered natural water bodies. total phosphorus, cyanides, cadmium, cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, mercury, lead, chromium, zinc, hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide, alcohols, benzene, formaldehyde, phenols, surfactants, urea, pesticides, semi-finished products.

Light industry. The main pollution of water bodies comes from textile production and leather tanning processes.

Textile industry wastewater contains: suspended solids, sulfates, chlorides, phosphorus and nitrogen compounds, nitrates, synthetic surfactants, iron, copper, zinc, nickel, chromium, lead, fluorine. Tanning industry - nitrogen compounds, phenols, synthetic surfactants, fats and oils, chromium, aluminum, hydrogen sulfide, methanol, fenaldehyde. Domestic wastewater is water from kitchens, toilets, showers, baths, laundries, canteens, hospitals, domestic premises of industrial enterprises, etc.

Another serious problem threatens the World Ocean and humanity as a whole. The current climate model takes into account the interaction of the Earth's heat, clouds and ocean currents. This, of course, does not simplify the preparation of climate and environmental forecasts, since the range of potential climate threats is becoming wider.

Timely receipt of information about water evaporation, cloud formation and the nature of ocean currents makes it possible, using data on the heating of the Earth, to make long-term forecasts of their changes.

Vortex storms - cyclones - pose an increasing threat. But the giant “pumping” system of the World Ocean also threatens to stop working - a system that depends on low polar temperatures and, like a powerful pump, “pumps” cold deep waters towards the equator. This means, for example, that in the absence of a cold current, the warm Gulf Stream will gradually stop flowing north. Therefore, the paradoxical idea that as a result of a strong greenhouse effect with a changed nature of currents, an ice age will begin again in Europe, is being seriously discussed.

At first the ocean will react weakly. However, in some places there will be disruptions to normal processes as a consequence of the increasing warming of the Earth. These disturbances include frequent typhoons and the El Niño phenomenon - when the deep cold Humboldt Current coming from the south and coming to the surface off the coast of South America is periodically pushed away from the coast by the influx of warm tropical waters. As a result, there is a massive death of marine animals; In addition, moist air masses, when reaching land, cause destructive rainfall and lead to large economic losses. If we leave everything as before and continue to “press” with incredible force on the nature around us, we will soon cease to recognize it.

The main reason for the modern degradation of the Earth's natural waters is anthropogenic pollution. Its main sources are:

a) wastewater from industrial enterprises;

b) municipal wastewater of cities and other populated areas;

c) runoff from irrigation systems, surface runoff from fields and other agricultural facilities;

d) atmospheric fallout of pollutants onto the surface of water bodies and drainage basins.

In addition, unorganized runoff of precipitation water ("storm runoff", melt water) pollutes water bodies with a significant portion of man-made terrapollutants.

Anthropogenic pollution of the hydrosphere has now become global in nature and has significantly reduced the available exploitable fresh water resources on the planet.

Thermal pollution of the surface of reservoirs and coastal marine areas occurs as a result of the discharge of heated wastewater by power plants and some industrial production.

The discharge of heated water in many cases causes an increase in water temperature in reservoirs by 6-8 degrees Celsius. The area of heated water spots in coastal areas can reach 30 square meters. km. More stable temperature stratification prevents water exchange between the surface and bottom layers. The solubility of oxygen decreases, and its consumption increases, since with increasing temperature the activity of aerobic bacteria decomposing organic matter increases. The species diversity of phytoplankton and the entire algal flora is increasing.

Radioactive contamination and toxic substances.

The danger that directly threatens human health is also associated with the ability of some toxic substances to remain active for a long time. A number of them, such as DDT, mercury, not to mention radioactive substances, can accumulate in marine organisms and be transmitted over long distances along the food chain.

Plants and animals are susceptible to contamination by radioactive substances. In their bodies there is a biological concentration of these substances, transmitted to each other through food chains. Infected small organisms are eaten by larger ones, resulting in dangerous concentrations in the latter. The radioactivity of some planktonic organisms can be 1000 times higher than the radioactivity of water, and some fish, which represent one of the highest links in the food chain, even 50 thousand times. The Moscow Treaty banning the testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, outer space and under water stopped the progressive radioactive mass pollution of the World Ocean. However, the sources of this pollution remain in the form of plants for the purification of uranium ore and the processing of nuclear fuel, nuclear power plants, and reactors.

The accumulation of nuclear weapons in the World Ocean occurred in different ways. Here are the main ones:

1. Deployment of nuclear weapons in the World Ocean as deterrents located on nuclear submarines;

2.Nuclear reactors used on ships with nuclear power plants, mainly submarines, some of which sank with nuclear fuel and nuclear equipment on board;

3. Use of the World Ocean for transportation of nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel;

4. Using the World Ocean as a dump for nuclear waste;

5. Testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, especially over the Pacific Ocean, which became a source of nuclear contamination of both water areas and land;

6. Underground nuclear weapons testing, like those recently conducted by France in the South Pacific, endangering the fragile Pacific atolls and leading to true nuclear contamination of the oceans and the risk of more pollution if the atolls crack due to testing or future tectonic activity.

The problems arising from the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the World Ocean can be viewed from several perspectives.

From an environmental perspective, there are problems of nuclear pollution in the world's oceans affecting the food chain. The biological resources of the seas and oceans ultimately affect the humanity that depends on them.

Now the threat of nuclear contamination of the aquatic environment has somewhat decreased, since nuclear tests have not been carried out at sea since 1980. Moreover, the nuclear powers have committed themselves to accede to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which they promised to conclude by 1996. The signing of the Treaty will All underground nuclear tests have been stopped.

Discharge of high-level radioactive waste into the world's oceans has been reduced since the 1975 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Materials, but dumping of low-level radioactive waste authorized by the International Atomic Energy Agency and non-compliance by individual countries are cause for concern. Problems can be foreseen in the future as radioactive contaminants stored in canisters or contained in fuel or weapons aboard sunken nuclear submarines are released into sea waters.

Increased use of the world's oceans to transport nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel (for example, between Japan and France) has significantly increased the risk of pollution. Coastal and island states located along the transport routes of nuclear materials are at high risk of contamination in the event of a maritime disaster. The role of International Law regarding waterborne transport of hazardous materials must be strengthened and its provisions must be strictly enforced by the international community in order to prevent catastrophic situations.

Mineral, organic, bacterial and biological pollution of the World Ocean. Mineral contamination is usually represented by sand, clay particles, particles of ore, slag, mineral salts, solutions of acids, alkalis, etc. Bacterial and biological contamination is associated with various pathogenic organisms, fungi and algae.

Organic pollution is divided by origin into plant and animal. Pollution is caused by the remains of plants, fruits, vegetables and cereals, vegetable oil, etc. Pollution of animal origin is wool processing, fur production, microbiological industry enterprises, etc.).

The removal of organic matter into the ocean is estimated at 300 - 380 million tons/year. Wastewater containing suspensions of organic origin or dissolved organic matter has a detrimental effect on the condition of water bodies. As they settle, the suspensions flood the bottom and delay the development or completely stop the vital activity of these microorganisms involved in the process of self-purification of water. When these sediments rot, harmful compounds and toxic substances, such as hydrogen sulfide, can be formed, which lead to the contamination of all water in the river.

A significant volume of organic substances, most of which are not characteristic of natural waters, is discharged into rivers along with industrial and domestic wastewater.

With such an area and volume of the World Ocean, it is simply impossible to believe that it can be polluted, much less endangered. Nevertheless, it is so. All natural pollution of the ocean: the runoff of products of rock destruction, the removal of organic substances by rivers, the entry of volcanic ash into the water, etc. - are perfectly balanced by nature itself.

Marine organisms are adapted to such pollution, and, moreover, they cannot live without it. In the complex ecological system of the World Ocean, all substances that enter the water naturally and in appropriate quantities and concentrations are successfully processed without any harm to the inhabitants of the sea, which continues to remain clean all the time.

As a result of the growth of cities and the accumulation of a large number of people in one place, household waste enters the ocean in a concentrated manner and does not have time to be disposed of during the self-purification process. In addition, industry discharges production by-products into the sea (directly through rivers or through the atmosphere) - substances that are generally not decomposed by marine organisms. In most cases, they have a harmful effect on sea inhabitants. Many artificial materials have appeared in everyday life (plastics, polyethylene, synthetic fabrics, etc.), products from which, having served their useful life, also end up in the ocean, polluting its bottom.

Many people, due to their lack of culture and ignorance, view the ocean as a giant cesspool, throwing overboard everything that they consider unnecessary. Often, sea pollution increases as a result of accidents and accidents with ships or at work, when large amounts of oil or other substances immediately enter the water, the discharge of which was not intended.

The construction of ports, industrial enterprises and even health institutions and hotels on the seashore takes away from the ocean the most biologically productive zone - the littoral zone (a section of the coast that is flooded with sea water during high tide and drained during low tide.). Combined with excessive fishing, this also leads to impoverishment of life.

Ways to solve environmental problems of the World Ocean

The problem of the World Ocean is a problem for the future of the entire civilization, since its future depends on how wisely humanity resolves them. Addressing these challenges requires concerted international efforts to coordinate ocean use. In recent years, a number of international agreements have been adopted to limit ocean pollution. However, its economic problems are so acute that it is necessary to move on to more drastic measures, since the death of the World Ocean will inevitably lead to the death of the entire planet.

In some cases, despite the enormous achievements of modern science, it is currently impossible to eliminate certain types of chemical and radioactive pollution.

Of course, it would be better not to pollute rivers and lakes from the very beginning. And this requires powerful treatment facilities, which in turn requires centralization of the sewerage system. We need sedimentation tanks for rainwater collected from the streets. Sludge is often used in treatment facilities, which after processing is used for fertilizer - this is stage 2, stage 1 is mechanical cleaning and filtration.

Stage 3 - chemical cleaning. It is used where residual pollutants in wastewater discharged from factories are still dangerous to human life and nature. Enterprises and organizations whose activities affect the state of waters are obliged to carry out the protection of fish stocks, in agreement with the bodies regulating the use and protection of waters, bodies exercising state sanitary supervision.

Funds for wastewater treatment do not need to be collected directly from all “pollutants” in proportion to the harm incurred.

The importance of water protection is supported by the “Water Party” adopted in May 1976 by European countries:

1. Without water there is no life. Water is a valuable resource absolutely necessary for humans;

2. The supply of good water is not endless. Therefore, environmental protection where possible, multiplication, is becoming increasingly important;

3. By polluting water, a person harms himself and all living organisms;

4. The quality of water must comply with sanitary standards and allow its use;

5. Used water must be returned to reservoirs in a condition in which it cannot interfere with its further use for public or individual needs;

6. Vegetation, especially forest, plays a significant role in the conservation of water reserves;

7. Water resources must be accounted for and recorded;

8. The appropriateness of water use should be regulated by the relevant authorities;

9. To protect water resources, enhanced scientific research, training of specialists and outreach work among the population are necessary;

10. Each of us is obliged, for the benefit of everyone, to use water sparingly and wisely; ocean pollution waste dumping

11. Water management should be based less on administrative and political boundaries than on the natural boundaries of watersheds;

12. Water knows no boundaries, therefore international cooperation is necessary in its protection and use.

The problem of cleaning industrial wastewater and preparing water for technical, household and drinking purposes is becoming increasingly important every year. The complexity of treatment is due to the extreme variety of impurities in wastewater, the quantity and composition of which is constantly changing as a result of the emergence of new industries and changes in the technology of existing ones. Currently, the method of wastewater treatment with activated sludge is the most universal and widely used in wastewater treatment. The use of technical oxygen, highly active symbiotic sludge cultures, biochemical oxidation stimulants, various types of improved aeration tank designs, aeration equipment and activated sludge separation systems made it possible to increase the productivity of the biological treatment method several times. Significant reserves are also hidden in the area of intensification of mass transfer. The problem of biological wastewater treatment is gaining increasing national economic importance.

Wastewater treatment methods.

Wastewater treatment methods can be divided into mechanical, chemical, physicochemical and biological. When they are used together, the method of wastewater treatment and disposal is called combined. The use of a particular method in each specific case is determined by the nature of the contamination and the degree of harmfulness of the impurities.

Among the physico-chemical methods, noteworthy is the method of electric pulse disinfection and post-purification, which completely eliminates chlorination. Treated wastewater is also further purified using ultrasound and ozone.

The essence of the mechanical method is that up to 60-75% of mechanical impurities are removed from wastewater by sedimentation and filtration.

When using a mechanical cleaning method, wastewater is freed from undissolved suspended solids.

One of the disadvantages of this method is that the water is not purified from dissolved organic contaminants. Therefore, mechanical treatment facilities (settlers, sand traps, grates and sieves) are most often a preliminary step before biological treatment.

Chemical method. The method of wastewater treatment is based on the use of various reagents that convert dissolved impurities into a solid insoluble state. Next, precipitation of these substances occurs. But one should not lose sight of the fact that the reagents used are quite expensive, and in addition, their exact dosage must be observed. This method is mainly used for treating industrial wastewater.

It should also be taken into account that neither mechanical nor chemical cleaning methods solve the main issue - waste disposal!

Therefore, the most effective currently is the biological method of wastewater treatment.

Biological wastewater treatment is the result of the functioning of the activated sludge - wastewater system, characterized by the presence of a complex multi-level structure. Biological oxidation, which forms the basis of this process, is a consequence of a large complex of interconnected processes of varying complexity: from elemental acts of electron exchange to complex interactions of the biocenosis with the external environment. Research results show that a characteristic feature of complex multi-species populations, which include activated sludge, is the establishment of a dynamic equilibrium in the system, which is achieved by adding up many relatively small deviations in the activity and abundance of individual species in one direction or another from their average level.

Disinfection of wastewater is carried out with the aim of destroying the pathogenic microorganisms contained in it and eliminating the risk of contamination of a reservoir with these microbes when purified wastewater is discharged into it.

The most common disinfection method is chlorination. Currently, small treatment plants use several types of installations for preparing dosed solutions containing active chlorine. The first type includes installations for chlorinating water with bleach or powdered hypochlorites. The principle of their operation comes down to preparing a solution of the required concentration and then feeding it into water. The second type includes installations that make it possible to obtain disinfecting chlorine products from initial raw materials - table salt - directly at the point of consumption. Such installations are electrolyzers designed for the preparation of electrolytic sodium hypochlorite. The third type includes installations that allow water to be disinfected by direct electrolysis. This method is reagent-free, since disinfecting products are formed due to the electrolytic decomposition of chlorides found in the water being treated.

The most serious problem of the seas and oceans in our century is oil pollution, the consequences of which are disastrous for all life on Earth.

Methods for purifying the waters of the World Ocean from oil:

· localization of the site (using floating fences - booms)

· burning in localized areas

· removal using sand treated with a special composition

As a result, oil sticks to the sand grains and sinks to the bottom.

· oil absorption by straw, sawdust, emulsions, dispersants, using gypsum

· a number of biological methods

The use of microorganisms that are capable of decomposing hydrocarbons down to carbon dioxide and water.

· the use of special vessels equipped with installations for collecting oil from the sea surface.

Special small vessels have been created that are delivered by plane to the site of tanker accidents. Each such vessel can suck up to 1.5 thousand liters of oil-water mixture, separating over 90% of the oil and pumping it into special floating tanks, which are then towed to the shore.

· safety standards are provided for during the construction of tankers, during the organization of transportation systems, and movement in bays.

But they all suffer from the disadvantage that vague language allows private companies to bypass them. There is no one other than the Coast Guard to enforce these laws.

Therefore, in 1954, an international conference was held in London with the goal of developing concerted actions to protect the marine environment from oil pollution. It adopted a convention defining the responsibilities of states in this area. Later, in 1958, four more documents were adopted in Geneva: on the high seas, on the territorial sea and the contiguous zone, on the continental shelf, on fisheries and the protection of living marine resources. These conventions legally established the principles and norms of the law of the sea. They obliged each country to develop and implement laws prohibiting pollution of the marine environment with oil, radioactive waste and other harmful substances. A conference held in London in 1973 adopted documents on the prevention of pollution from ships. According to the adopted convention, each ship must have a certificate - evidence that the hull, mechanisms and other equipment are in good condition and do not cause damage to the sea. Compliance with certificates is checked by inspection upon entry into the port.

It is prohibited to discharge oil-containing water from tankers; all discharges from them must be pumped only to onshore receiving points. Electrochemical installations have been created for the purification and disinfection of ship wastewater, including domestic wastewater. The Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences has developed an emulsion method for cleaning sea tankers, which completely eliminates the entry of oil into the water area. It consists of adding several surfactants (ML preparation) to the wash water, which allows cleaning on the ship itself without discharging contaminated water or oil residues, which can subsequently be regenerated for further use. Up to 300 tons of oil can be washed from each tanker.

In order to prevent oil leaks, the designs of oil tankers are being improved. Many modern tankers have a double bottom. If one of them is damaged, oil will not spill out; it will be retained by the second shell.

Ship captains are required to record in special logs information about all cargo operations with oil and petroleum products, and note the place and time of delivery or discharge of contaminated wastewater from the ship.

Floating oil skimmers and side barriers are used to systematically clean up water areas from accidental spills. Physico-chemical methods are also used to prevent oil spreading.

A foam group preparation has been created that, when in contact with an oil slick, completely envelops it. After spinning, the foam can be used again as a sorbent. Such drugs are very convenient due to their ease of use and low cost, but their mass production has not yet been established. There are also sorbent agents based on plant, mineral and synthetic substances. Some of them can collect up to 90% of spilled oil. The main requirement that is placed on them is unsinkability.

After oil is collected by sorbents or mechanical means, a thin film always remains on the surface of the water, which can be removed by spraying chemicals that decompose it. But at the same time, these substances must be biologically safe.

A unique technology has been created and tested in Japan, with the help of which a giant stain can be eliminated in a short time. The Kansai Sange Corporation has released the ASWW reagent, the main component of which is specially processed rice husk. Sprayed over the surface, the drug absorbs the emission within half an hour and turns into a thick mass that can be pulled off with a simple net.

The original cleaning method was demonstrated by American scientists in the Atlantic Ocean. A ceramic plate is lowered under the oil film to a certain depth. An acoustic record is connected to it. Under the influence of vibration, it first accumulates in a thick layer above the place where the plate is installed, and then mixes with water and begins to gush. An electric current applied to the plate ignites the fountain, and the oil burns completely.

Owners of water transport, pipelines, floating and other structures on water bodies, timber floating organizations, as well as other enterprises are obliged to prevent pollution and clogging of water due to loss of oils, wood, chemicals, petroleum and other products.

Since 1993, the dumping of liquid radioactive waste (LRW) has been prohibited, but their number is steadily growing. Therefore, in order to protect the environment, liquid radioactive waste cleanup projects began to be developed in the 90s.

In 1996, representatives of Japanese, American and Russian firms signed a contract to create a facility for processing liquid radioactive waste accumulated in the Russian Far East. The Japanese government allocated $25.2 million for the project.

In order to maintain a favorable water regime of rivers, lakes, reservoirs, groundwater and other water bodies, to prevent water erosion of soils and siltation of reservoirs, anti-erosion hydraulic measures are carried out.

However, despite some successes in the search for effective means of eliminating pollution, it is too early to talk about solving the problem. Only by introducing new methods of cleaning water areas it is impossible to ensure the cleanliness of the seas and oceans. The central task that all countries need to solve together is the prevention of pollution.

Conclusion

Every person who lives on the seashore or has never seen it should know that the purity of ocean waters depends on his personal behavior. If all the people of the Earth showed real concern for the ocean, the problem of its pollution would not be so acute now.

Any plastic bag or chocolate bar packaging thrown into the sea falls to the bottom and robs the sea inhabitants of part of their living space. Everyone must understand that by pouring a bucket of water left after washing with a synthetic detergent into a stream, we not only muddy the water of a clean mountain stream, but contribute to the pollution of the entire World Ocean.

I believe that the oceans should be valued, respected and loved by everyone; it is necessary to strive to learn as much as possible about it, then our attitude towards this miracle of nature will be conscious and we will stop, wittingly or unwittingly, causing damage to it.

List of used literature

1. “The World Ocean: International Legal Regime; Main Problems” A.L. Kolodkin, V.N. Gutsulyak, Yu.V. Bobrova "Status" 2010

2. "World Ocean" B.S. Zalogin, Kuzminskaya K.S. "Academy" 2012

3. “Ecology, environment and people” Y.V. Novikov “Fair Press” 2005

4. "Ecology" G.V. Stadnitsky, A.I. Rodionov, Moscow "Higher School" 1988

5. "Ecology" A.A. Gorelov, Moscow "Center" 2000

6. “The Doctrine of the Biosphere” O.Z. Eremchenko "Academy" 2006

7. "Biosphere and its resources" ed. A.N. Tyuryukanov 1971

8. "Biosphere" Vernadsky V.I. - M., 1967

9. “Living matter and the biosphere” Vernadsky V.I. - M., 1994

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The environmental consequences of pollution of the World Ocean are expressed in the following processes and phenomena:

Violation of ecosystem stability;

Progressive eutrophication;

The emergence of “red tides”;

Accumulation of chemical toxicants in biota;

Decrease in biological productivity;

The occurrence of mutagenesis and carcinogenesis in the marine environment;

Microbiological pollution of coastal areas of the sea.

Not the least role in this was played by the opinion about the ocean’s capabilities for self-purification.

The most dangerous pollution for the ocean is: pollution from oil and petroleum products, radioactive substances, industrial and household waste, and chemical fertilizers. However, there are also powerful external sources of pollution - atmospheric flows and continental runoff. As a result, today we can state the presence of pollutants not only in areas adjacent to continents and in areas of intense shipping, but also in open parts of the oceans, including the high latitudes of the Arctic and Antarctic. It should be noted that pollution of soil, water or atmosphere also ultimately comes down to pollution of the World Ocean, since as a result all toxic substances enter it.

According to experts, about 15 million tons of oil enter the World Ocean every year. This is due to the movements of oil tankers. In the past, the practice of flushing the holds of tankers was widespread, resulting in the release of huge quantities of oil into the ocean.

In the ocean, oil pollution comes in many forms. It can cover the surface of the water in a thin film, and during spills the thickness of the oil coating can initially be several centimeters. Over time, an emulsion of oil in water or water in oil is formed. Later, lumps of the heavy fraction of oil, oil aggregates, appear that can float on the surface of the sea for a long time. Various small animals are attached to the floating lumps of fuel oil, which fish and baleen whales readily feed on. Together with them they swallow oil. Some fish die from this, others become completely saturated with oil and become unsuitable for consumption due to their unpleasant smell and taste. All components of oil are toxic to marine organisms. Oil affects the community structure of marine animals. Oil pollution changes the ratio of species and reduces their diversity. Thus, microorganisms that feed on petroleum hydrocarbons develop abundantly, and the biomass of these microorganisms is toxic to many marine inhabitants.

It has been proven that long-term chronic exposure to even small concentrations of oil is very dangerous. At the same time, the primary biological productivity of the sea is gradually falling. Oil has another unpleasant side effect. Its hydrocarbons are capable of dissolving a number of other pollutants, such as pesticides and heavy metals, which, together with oil, are concentrated in the surface layer and further poison it. The largest quantities of oil are concentrated in a thin near-surface layer of sea water, which plays a particularly important role for various aspects of ocean life. Surface oil films disrupt gas exchange between the atmosphere and the ocean. The processes of dissolution and release of oxygen, carbon dioxide, heat exchange undergo changes, and the reflectivity of sea water changes. Chlorinated hydrocarbons, widely used as means of controlling agricultural and forestry pests and carriers of infectious diseases, have been entering the World Ocean along with river runoff and through the atmosphere for many decades. DDT (a chemical widely used in the 50-60s of the 20th century for pest control. A very persistent compound that can accumulate in the environment, pollute it and disrupt the biological balance in nature. Banned everywhere in the 70s) and its derivatives , polychlorinated biphenyls and other persistent compounds of this class are now found throughout the world's oceans, including the Arctic and Antarctic. They are easily soluble in fats and therefore accumulate in the organs of fish, mammals, and seabirds. Being substances of completely artificial origin, they do not have their “consumers” among microorganisms and therefore almost do not decompose in natural conditions, but only accumulate in the World Ocean. At the same time, they are acutely toxic and affect the hematopoietic system and heredity.

Along with river runoff, heavy metals also enter the ocean, many of which have toxic properties. The total river flow is 46 thousand km of water per year.

The atmosphere also plays a significant role in the pollution of the World Ocean. For example, up to 30% of all mercury and 50% of lead entering the ocean each year is transported through the atmosphere. Due to its toxic effect in the marine environment, mercury is particularly dangerous. Microbiological processes convert toxic inorganic mercury into much more toxic forms of mercury. Its compounds accumulated in fish or shellfish pose a direct threat to human life and health. Mercury, cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, chromium, arsenic and other heavy metals not only accumulate in marine organisms, thereby poisoning marine food, but also have a detrimental effect on sea inhabitants. The accumulation coefficients of toxic metals, i.e. their concentration per unit weight in marine organisms relative to seawater, vary widely - from hundreds to hundreds of thousands, depending on the nature of the metals and the types of organisms. These coefficients show how harmful substances accumulate in fish, shellfish, crustaceans, planktonic and other organisms.

In some countries, under public pressure, laws have been passed prohibiting the discharge of untreated wastewater into inland waters - rivers, lakes, etc.

Dumping of waste into the sea for the purpose of burial (dumping).

A terrible threat to all life, not only in the ocean, but also on land, is posed by atomic tests at sea and the burial of radioactive waste in the depths of the sea.

Light industry. The main pollution of water bodies comes from textile production and leather tanning processes.

The main reason for the modern degradation of the Earth's natural waters is anthropogenic pollution. Its main sources are:

a) wastewater from industrial enterprises;

b) municipal wastewater of cities and other populated areas;

c) runoff from irrigation systems, surface runoff from fields and other agricultural facilities;

d) atmospheric fallout of pollutants onto the surface of water bodies and drainage basins.

In addition, unorganized runoff of precipitation water ("storm runoff", melt water) pollutes water bodies with a significant portion of man-made terrapollutants.

Anthropogenic pollution of the hydrosphere has now become global in nature and has significantly reduced the available exploitable fresh water resources on the planet.

Thermal pollution of the surface of reservoirs and coastal marine areas occurs as a result of the discharge of heated wastewater by power plants and some industrial production.

Radioactive contamination and toxic substances.

The accumulation of nuclear weapons in the World Ocean occurred in different ways. Here are the main ones:

1. Deployment of nuclear weapons in the World Ocean as deterrents located on nuclear submarines;

2.Nuclear reactors used on ships with nuclear power plants, mainly submarines, some of which sank with nuclear fuel and nuclear equipment on board;

3. Use of the World Ocean for transportation of nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel;

4. Using the World Ocean as a dump for nuclear waste;

5. Testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, especially over the Pacific Ocean, which became a source of nuclear contamination of both water areas and land;

The problems arising from the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the World Ocean can be viewed from several perspectives.

Mineral, organic, bacterial and biological pollution of the World Ocean . Mineral contamination is usually represented by sand, clay particles, particles of ore, slag, mineral salts, solutions of acids, alkalis, etc. Bacterial and biological contamination is associated with various pathogenic organisms, fungi and algae.

A significant volume of organic substances, most of which are not characteristic of natural waters, is discharged into rivers along with industrial and domestic wastewater.

With such an area and volume of the World Ocean, it is simply impossible to believe that it can be polluted, much less endangered. Nevertheless, it is so. All natural pollution of the ocean: the runoff of rock destruction products, the removal of organic substances by rivers, the entry of volcanic ash into the water, etc. - are perfectly balanced by nature itself.

Port construction , industrial enterprises and even health institutions and hotels on the seashore take away from the ocean the most biologically productive zone - the littoral zone (a section of the coast that is flooded with sea water during high tide and drained during low tide.). Combined with excessive fishing, this also leads to impoverishment of life.

The importance of the World Ocean for all life on Earth is enormous: but life originated in it, it ensures its further development due to its role as a temperature regulator and oxygen producer; The transport, mineral, and bioresource use of the Ocean is growing.

Ocean problem is that more than 1 million tons of oil, industrial and urban waste, including heavy metals and radioactive waste in containers, fall into it annually, which ultimately leads to a reduction in its fish productivity and a decrease in the recreational opportunities of the coasts.

Solutions:

Scientific and technological revolution opens up enormous opportunities for solving the problem of the World Ocean.

The solution to such issues as: more complete extraction of minerals from the bowels of the Earth, reduction of energy and material intensity of production, discovery of new and development of previously inaccessible deposits, involvement of inexhaustible energy resources in economic circulation, progress in the field of nuclear and hydrogen energy, MHD depends on it -generators, fuel cells and much more.

Water is a prerequisite for the existence of all living organisms on earth. Large volumes of water on the planet create the impression of its abundance and inexhaustibility. For many years, the development of water resources was carried out practically uncontrolled. There is now not enough water where it does not exist in nature, where it is intensively used, where it has become unsuitable for consumption.

About 60% of the total land area is in areas that do not have sufficient fresh water. A quarter of humanity suffers from a lack of it, and over 500 million people suffer from shortages and poor quality.

Water resources are distributed unevenly across continents. Asia, due to its large population and high population growth rates, is among the most water-poor continents. Many countries in Southwest and South Asia, as well as East Africa, will soon face water shortages, which will not only limit agricultural and industrial development, but may also lead to political conflicts.

The need for fresh water is experienced by the population, industry and agriculture. However, most of the water is the water of the world's oceans, unsuitable not only for drinking, but also for technological needs.

Despite the achievements of modern technology, the problem of reliable water supply for many countries of the world remains unresolved.

The increase in industrial water consumption is associated not only with its rapid development, but also with the increase in water intensity of production. The chemical industry, metallurgy, and paper production require a lot of water.

Global agriculture accounts for about 70% of all global water withdrawals. And now most of the world's farmers use the same irrigation methods as their ancestors did 5,000 years ago. Irrigation systems in third world countries are particularly inefficient.

We can draw the following conclusion: the deficit of fresh water is growing.

The reasons for this are: rapid population growth, increased consumption of fresh water for agriculture and industry, discharge of wastewater and industrial waste, and a decrease in the ability of water bodies to self-purify.

The limited, uneven distribution of freshwater resources and growing water pollution are one of the components of humanity’s global resource problem.

The ocean occupies most of the earth's surface - 70%. It supplies half of the oxygen in the air and 20% of the protein food of humanity. The properties of sea water - thermal generation, circulation of currents and atmospheric flows - determine the climate and weather on earth. It is believed that it is the World Ocean that will quench the thirst of humanity. The resource potential of the ocean can in many ways replenish the depleting resources of the land.

So what resources does the World Ocean have?

Biological resources (fish, zoo- and phytoplankton);

Huge mineral resources;

Energy potential (one tidal cycle of the World Ocean is capable of providing humanity with energy - however, for now this is the “potential of the future”);

The transport significance of the World Ocean is great for the development of world production and exchange;

The ocean is the receptacle for most of the waste from human economic activity (through the chemical and physical effects of its waters and the biological influence of living organisms, the ocean disperses and purifies the bulk of the waste that enters it, maintaining the relative balance of the earth’s ecosystems);

The ocean is the main reservoir of the most valuable and increasingly scarce resource - water (the production of which through desalination is increasing every year).

Scientists believe that the ocean's biological resources are enough to feed 30 billion people.

Of the biological resources of the ocean, fish is currently primarily used. However, since the 70s, the increase in catch has been falling. In this regard, humanity will seriously think about the fact that the biological resources of the ocean are under threat as a result of their overexploitation.

The main reasons for the depletion of biological resources include:

unsustainable management of global fisheries,

ocean water pollution.

In addition to biological resources, the World Ocean has enormous mineral resources. Almost all elements of the periodic table are present in sea water. The depths of the ocean, its bottom, are rich in iron, manganese, nickel, and cobalt.

Currently, offshore oil and gas production is developing, and the share of offshore production is approaching 1/3 of the world production of these energy resources.

However, along with the exploitation of the rich natural resources of the world's oceans, pollution is also increasing, especially with the increase in oil transportation.

The question on the agenda is: will the ocean turn into a waste dump? 90% of the waste dumped into the seas each year ends up in coastal areas, where it harms fisheries, recreation, etc.

The development of ocean resources and its protection is undoubtedly one of the global problems of humanity. The world ocean determines the face of the biosphere. A healthy ocean means a healthy planet.

To summarize, it becomes clear that global problems are the result of the enormous scale of human activity, radically changing nature, society, people's way of life, as well as man's inability to rationally manage this powerful force.

We see that there are a large number of problems that threaten all life on Earth. The main thing, however, is not the completeness of the list of these problems, but in understanding the reasons for their occurrence, their nature and, most importantly, in identifying effective ways and means of resolving them.

Global problems, in my opinion, require enormous attention, their understanding and immediate solutions, otherwise not solving them can result in a disaster. As a resident of planet Earth, I cannot help but be concerned about the global problems of humanity, because I want to breathe clean air, eat healthy food, live in peace and communicate with smart, educated people.

It is not difficult to understand what awaits us if we do not pay due attention to these problems. Then the entire civilization will suffer. This danger worries me not only; many people are already trumpeting all over the planet about problems in all spheres of life. Special organizations are being created to develop solutions and overcome emerging dangers to all living things.

The disease of civilization can only be cured through the common efforts of the peoples of the Earth. One can hope that international solidarity and a growing sense of belonging to a single human community will force a search for solutions to the GP.

You need to know this!!

The problems of the World Ocean are environmental, economic, technical, and social problems at the same time, and his future depends on how wisely a person resolves them!!!

Take care of nature!

global problem security demographic

The problem of the World Ocean is the problem of conservation and rational use of its spaces and resources.

At present, the World Ocean, as a closed ecological system, can hardly withstand the greatly increased anthropogenic load, and a real threat of its destruction is created. Therefore, the global problem of the World Ocean is, first of all, the problem of its survival. As Thor Heyerdahl said, “a dead ocean is a dead planet.”

Legal aspect of ocean use

Up until the 70s. last century, all activities in the World Ocean were carried out in accordance with the generally recognized principle of freedom of the high seas, which means all maritime space outside the territorial waters, the width of which was only 3 nautical miles.

In the 20th century the situation has changed radically. Many countries, primarily developing ones, unilaterally began to appropriate vast coastal waters up to 200 (or even more) nautical miles from the coast and extend their jurisdiction within them to certain types of maritime activities, and some countries even declared their sovereignty over these waters. By the end of the 70s. More than 100 countries, including the USSR, have already announced the introduction of 200-mile zones (they were called economic zones).

In 1982, the III UN Conference on the Law of the Sea, which adopted the relevant Convention, drew a legal line under various types of maritime activities. The ocean was declared "the common heritage of mankind." 200-mile exclusive economic zones were officially established, covering 40% of the area of the World Ocean, where all economic activities fell under the jurisdiction of the respective states. Shelf zones (even if they exceed the economic zone in width) also fell under the jurisdiction of these states. The bottom of the remaining, deep-sea part of the ocean, rich in iron-manganese nodules, received the status of an international area, where all economic activities should be carried out through a specially created International Seabed Authority, which has already divided the deep-sea areas of the ocean between the world's largest powers; The Soviet Union also received a certain part of the bottom. As a result, the principle of freedom of the high seas ceased to exist.

Economics of the Ocean

Today this is an acute problem that is being solved by all of humanity on the scale of the global economy. The World Ocean has long served as a transport artery. Maritime transport provides trade and economic ties; it accounts for more than 60% of global cargo turnover. In the second half of the 20th century. The rapid development of maritime transport was facilitated by the formation of a very large geographical gap between the areas of production and consumption, and the increasing dependence of economically developed countries on the supply of raw materials and fuel. However, starting from the 80s. the growth of maritime transport cargo turnover has ceased. Currently, commercial maritime shipping generates more than $100 billion in revenue per year.

The world's oceans are a storehouse of natural resources. Humanity has long used its biological resources. Currently, marine fishing produces approximately $60 billion worth of products per year. The main part of the world's marine products is fish (about 85%). During the 20th century. Fish catch volumes increased steadily. The exceptions were the years of World War II and the 70s, when severe overfishing made itself felt. However, starting from the 80s. catch growth has recovered. Now they exceed 125 million tons per year. It should be noted that although in the 80s. the rate of extraction of marine biological resources was restored, the “quality” of the resources noticeably decreased.

Today, 90% of fish and other seafood products are caught offshore. The leader in the world catch is China (about 37 million tons, but more than half of its catch is freshwater fish). Next come Peru (about 10 million tons), Chile, Japan, USA; Russia is in 8th place (just over 4 million tons). No further increase in fish production is expected, as this could lead to irreversible erosion of the ocean's biological resources.

In addition to biological resources, the World Ocean has enormous mineral wealth. Among them, the most important are oil and natural gas, the production of which has grown at a particularly rapid pace in recent decades on the shelf of the World Ocean; Already today, their extraction will produce products worth more than $200 billion per year.

At the current technical level, oil production occurs at depths of up to 500 m, i.e. already beyond the continental shelf. Accordingly, the cost of “sea” oil is growing, especially in Arctic latitudes. It is the rise in price of “sea” oil that explains the fact that in the last decade the rate of oil production in the ocean has decreased slightly.

The ocean is also rich in hydrochemical raw materials dissolved in ocean waters: salts of sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, bromine, iodine and many other elements. Coastal deposits of heavy metals, which are strategic raw materials, are very valuable. Another untouched treasure trove of the World Ocean is young rift zones. As a result of contact with the escaping mantle material, the water heats up to 50-60°C. salinity rises to 260%. The resulting hot brine contains valuable metals; sulfide ores of rare metals are formed at the bottom, the concentration of which is sometimes 10 times higher than in iron-manganese nodules and even more so in “land” ores.

The world's oceans are a colossal source of renewable energy resources, but ocean energy has so far been used to a very small extent to serve humans. At the same time, using the energy of sea tides, currents, waves, and temperature gradients causes almost no harm to the environment. The vast majority of ocean energy is uncontrollable. An inexhaustible source of energy is thermonuclear fusion using deuterium - heavy hydrogen. The amount of deuterium contained in 1 liter of sea water can provide as much energy as 120 liters of gasoline.

Demographic aspect of ocean use

The result of active development of ocean resources has been a many-fold increase in “demographic pressure” on the ocean environment. The population is increasingly moving towards the coastal zone. Thus, about 2.5 billion people now live in the 100-kilometer coastal strip, i.e. almost half of the world's population. And if we add to this figure temporary vacationers arriving from all over the world and cruise ship passengers, the number of “sea” residents will increase significantly. Moreover, the area of urbanized areas in the coastal zone is much larger than in inland areas, due to the fact that there is a global process of geographical mixing of industries towards the sea, into port areas, where powerful port-industrial complexes are being formed. Only sea tourism and tourism (beach facilities, infrastructure and cruise tourism) generates about $50 billion in income, i.e. almost as much as marine fishing provides.

Defense and geopolitical aspects of ocean use

Currently, the World Ocean is considered as the main potential theater and launching pad for military operations. Unlike slow-moving land-based missiles, sea-based weapons provide maximum mobility from a geographic and strategic perspective. It is known that only five major maritime powers have about 15 thousand nuclear warheads on their surface and underwater vessels, capable of destroying all life on Earth. Therefore, the ocean has become the most important center of geopolitical interests of most countries of the world. Here the activities and, accordingly, the interests of the most diverse countries of the world collide: developed and developing, coastal and continental, island, archipelagic and continental, resource-rich and poor, heavily populated and sparsely populated, etc.

Environmental aspects of ocean use

The world's oceans have become a kind of focus where legal, defense, geopolitical, economic, scientific, technical, research, and demographic problems of using its resources and spaces come together, which, taken together, contribute to the emergence of another major global problem of our time - environmental. The ocean is the main regulator of the content of basic nutrients (oxygen and hydrogen) in the atmosphere: the ocean is a filter that cleanses the atmosphere of harmful products of natural and anthropogenic origin; The ocean, among other things, is a huge accumulator and a cesspool for many human waste products.

In some water areas where human activity is most active, it has become difficult for the ocean to clean itself, since its ability to self-clean is not unlimited. An increase in the volume of pollutants entering the ocean can cause a qualitative leap, which will manifest itself in a sharp imbalance in the ocean ecosystem, which will lead to the inevitable “death” of the ocean. In turn, the “death” of the ocean inevitably entails the death of all humanity.

The problem of the World Ocean is a problem that includes two aspects: the problem of preserving the World Ocean and the rational use of its resources and spaces.

The world's oceans are a repository of huge reserves of resources, energy, and primary raw materials for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Exploring the world's oceans will allow it to eventually replace part of the depleting land resources. Its further study will make it possible to more effectively solve a number of global problems.

Various programs are being created to study the world's oceans. The main goals and objectives of such programs:

fundamental research into the processes of interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere;

study of the natural environment and resource potential of continental shelves;

studying and monitoring the state of the world ocean and the hydrometeorological situation in the adjacent seas in order to ensure the economic and defense activities of countries;

study of the structure and development of the earth's crust at the bottom of the seas and oceans, forecast and assessment of the mineral resources of the world ocean;

study of natural and man-made emergency situations in marine areas and coastal areas;

creation of tools and development of methods for processing geophysical information in real time;

creation of modern navigation, hydrogeographic and hydrometeorological equipment to ensure the safety of maritime activities;

monitoring the state and pollution of the world's oceans, especially in coastal waters, and preparing appropriate recommendations.

The problem of pollution of the world's oceans.

Ocean water makes up 97% of all water on the planet. The world's oceans are the largest supplier of food products; it supplies about half of all animal proteins that are consumed by humanity as food. The ocean also plays a huge role in maintaining life on Earth, since about 70% of the oxygen that enters the atmosphere is produced by plankton during the process of photosynthesis. Blue-green algae participate in the purification of water during its circulation. The ocean receives polluted river and rainwater and, through evaporation, returns purified water to the continent in the form of clean precipitation.

The World Ocean occupies an important place among objects of environmental protection. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the currents of the seas and oceans quickly carry pollutants and garbage over long distances from the place of their discharge. Therefore, the problem of pollution of the world's oceans occupies a special place in international issues.

Chemical pollution manifests itself in a change in the chemical properties of water due to an increase in the concentration of harmful impurities in it, both inorganic and organic.

Mostly water bodies are polluted by oil and its derivatives. Oil pollution is dangerous because of the film that forms when it spills; it prevents free gas exchange with the atmosphere, which negatively affects ocean fauna and flora.

Tanker disasters pose a great danger to the ocean, and nuclear submarines pose an even greater danger. The Mediterranean Sea area is especially dangerous; a cargo flow of 250 million tons of oil passes through it, although the area of this sea occupies only 1% of the world's oceans. Military conflicts also pose a significant danger. During the Gulf War, approximately 2/3 of the western coast of the Persian Gulf was covered with a layer of oil, as a result of which a huge number of animals and birds died.

In addition to chemical and oil pollution, there is another type of pollution that poses a considerable danger to the world's oceans - radioactive pollution from the disposal of radioactive waste.

In order to preserve the world's oceans and prevent its further pollution, it is necessary to carry out a set of measures, including the treatment of wastewater and reservoirs, the introduction of recycled water supply and low-waste technologies.

Waste-free technology is developing in several directions:

creation of drainless technological systems and water circulation cycles based on existing introduced and promising methods of water purification;

development and implementation of fundamentally new processes for obtaining traditional types of products, which make it possible to eliminate or reduce technological stages that produce the bulk of liquid waste pollutants;

development and implementation of systems for recycling production and consumption waste, which prevents their entry into the aquatic environment.