Water Spouts

Water spouts sometimes form in hurricanes, squalls, or thunderstorms, but they can also materialize on their own. Winds may exceed 125 miles per hour, giving them the capability to pick boats up high off the water’s surface. They often aren’t visible at first, except from aircraft.

They have occurred in many different places, but most commonly appear in the Florida Keys. Spouts have also popped up in California, Tampa Bay, and the Bermuda region. Even in areas with high temperatures year around, they typically happen during the summer.

Water spouts at sea seldom appear late at night or during the mid-morning, at least in the Florida Keys. One good way to maintain awareness about them is to use an NOAA Weather Radio, preferably with an alert siren feature. A warning will sound if spouts have been spotted or could soon appear.

Various weather conditions signal the potential for a water spout. Thunderstorms can spawn the strongest spouts, but they might also develop under rows of cumulus clouds. Spout-forming clouds usually have flat, dark bottoms and a slight breeze often accompanies them.

Boats and personal watercraft risk damage by water spouts, regardless of whether they are traveling at sea or docked in a marina. A spout isn’t likely to sink or otherwise destroy a large vessel (cargo ship, megayacht, etc) but it can still cause serious harm.

When boaters see one or more spouts, they should quickly travel at a ninety-degree angle to its path. If possible, avoid boating or return to port when the weather service issues tornado or thunderstorm warnings. Waterfront home owners and marinas should also take precautions.

Unlike tornadoes, water spouts can form on the water and rise upward, or start in the clouds and eventually reach the surface. Often the most dangerous type of spout forms in a thunderstorm’s clouds.

Last month a storm spawned four water spouts near Sunset Beach, CA. The L.A. Times reported that one damaged boats at a marina. Another spout was reported on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville last summer. After about forty minutes, it went on land and became a tornado, causing minor damage.

Water spouts have also occurred on the Great Lakes, usually during the late summer and early autumn. They were spotted on Lake Erie in 2006, 2004, and 2001. Four appeared simultaneously over Lake Huron in 1999. There have been several over Great Salt Lake in Utah as well.

Overall, tornadoes and water spouts hold many similarities, but also some noteworthy differences. They pose a danger to boaters and other people in or along the water, but taking the right precautions greatly reduces the risk.

SOURCES:
1. Encarta Encyclopedia 2005
2. NOAA Storm Prediction Center
3. National Weather Service, Miami
4. NWS Jacksonville, FL
5. USA Today
6. Los Angeles Times
7. NASA

Great Lakes Pollution

Five massive bodies of water in the northern U.S. and southern Canada make up the Great Lakes. People frequently use the lakes for fishing, shipping, and recreation. Unfortunately, in the Great Lakes, pollution has long been a serious problem; from both marine and land-based sources.

HISTORY OF GREAT LAKES POLLUTION
Dioxin began to kill off lake trout in the region as early as the 1930s. Wastewater and fertilizers released substantial amounts of phosphorus into the lakes in the 1960s. Especially large quantities of untreated waste were poured into Lake Erie. PCBs and DDT pesticide contributed to water pollution in subsequent decades. Canada and the U.S. signed two major agreements during the 1970s which helped mitigate these problems, but only to some extent.

GREAT LAKES POLLUTION TODAY
The environment of the Great Lakes has seen a few improvements in recent years, but overall conditions remain poor in numerous areas. Many U.S. companies in Ohio (including a coal power plant) are trying to gain exceptions to the limit on mercury discharges in Lake Erie. In early 2010, Canadian environmentalist organizations urged the government to improve environmental regulations, saying that industrial waste was still being released into the water.

The U.S. and Canadian governments have established 43 “Areas of Concern” in the Great Lakes, including Wheatley Harbour, Buffalo River, Milwaukee Estuary, Thunder Bay, and Eighteen Mile Creek, among others. Contaminated sediments pose a major pollution issue in numerous “Areas of Concern”. The 2010 budget for the Environmental Protection Agency provides $475,000,000 in funding to help improve the Great Lakes environment and eliminate invasive species.

CONSEQUENCES OF WATER POLLUTION
People have to avoid regularly eating the fish from these lakes due to their contamination, and many species have declined. Pollution contributed to the failure of the commercial fishing industry in the Great Lakes. The contaminants also affect birds that consume seafood from the area. Pollutants can produce many types of health problems in humans and cause the eventual extinction of animal species. The disruptions of nature’s balance and the loss of one species, creates inevitable harm to other species and environmental conditions.

STEPS TO REDUCE POLLUTION
A single person cannot stop this from happening, but every individual can certainly make a difference. Everyone contributes to pollution; we can’t honestly expect government regulators or environmentalists to solve all of these problems, for us, without our cooperation. If you live near the Great Lakes or boat on them, there are some steps you can take to help minimize the Great Lakes pollution problem…

1. Conserve electricity and drive less to reduce air pollution. If you have a motorized boat, consider using an emission-reducing fuel additive.
2. Remove any trash or fishing supplies you find on beaches or near the water. Complain if the garbage cans at a lakeside business or park are always full, or overflowing.
3. If you own a marina, take the necessary measures to become certified as a Clean Marina. Such marinas reduce water pollution and help boaters do the same.
4. Sign petitions and write letters to businesses, politicians, and government agencies on water related environmental issues.

Additional Information:  http://stopasiancarp.com/
Discuss this issue in The Green Captain™ Forums.

SOURCES:
1. Encarta Encyclopedia 2005 (CD-ROM)
2. Britannica Ready Reference (CD-ROM)
3. Environmental Protection Agency
4. Winnipeg Free Press
5. Cleveland Scene
6. Science News

To read about Marinas Going Green, click here…

The marine industry, both recreational and commercial, has had a serious impact upon the environment for decades. Although news reports about environmental issues typically focus upon automobiles and electricity, the marine industry has produced a great deal of pollution and released significant quantities of hazardous waste into the environment.

TANKER SHIPS

The oil industry has caused many major spills, including the spill of 1,619,000 barrels near France in 1978, 2,643,000 barrels in the Caribbean in 1979, and 452,000 barrels off the Canary Islands in 1989. Another major spill occurred in late 1972 when two ships collided off the coast of Oman and released about 762,000 barrels of oil. Fires, collisions with other ships or rocks, and capsizing ships lead to many oil industry spills. Some ships wash their tanks out with ocean water, releasing additional pollutants into the environment.

Oil spills are difficult to clean up and easily pollute a large area. The Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 polluted 1,100 miles of the Alaskan coast. The spill severely impacted the area’s fishing industry and many thousands of animals died. The cleanup went on for years, and various species of birds, fish, and marine mammals were still badly affected ten years later. When an even larger spill occurred near Spain in 2002, the oil reached France and Portugal, killing massive numbers of birds and fish along the way.

Petroleum is not the only hazardous substance to be spilled or dumped at sea. In the past, ships often released radioactive waste and toxic chemicals into the ocean. During the late ’70s and early 1980s, the environment protection group Greenpeace observed and reported ships dumping radioactive material from various West European countries in the Atlantic Ocean. To a lesser extent, toxic dumping still occurs, although the nuclear industry’s waste discharges at sea largely came to an end in the early 1990s.

Accidental chemical spills also remain a serious problem for the environment, although oil discharges are more common. In 2001, two ships off Taiwan crashed, causing a tanker to release eighty tons of a toxic chemical substance into the ocean. During the same year, a vessel overturned near Malaysia and leaked large quantities of phenol. Most fish and other sea creatures in the area were wiped out, dying almost immediately.

LARGE OCEAN SHIPS

Another type of marine vessel which has a significant impact upon the environment is the large ocean vessel, including cargo and cruise ships. Although spilling their cargo is less of an environmental concern, they can cause engine fuel spills and release various pollutants into the water.

These ships frequently use and discharge water in ways that harm the marine ecosystem. “Grey water” from sinks and showers is often released into the water, while ejected bilge water contains various contaminants. Ballast water, which is used to stabilize a ship, can transfer invasive species from one area to another.

Owing to their large size and many passengers, cruise ships have a serious effect on the environment as well. They have released significant quantities of sewage and other waste into the ocean, although the cruise industry recently took some minor steps to improve their environmental practices. Over two-hundred running cruise ships exist throughout the world.

FISHING INDUSTRY

Excessive fishing has pushed some species to the brink of extinction and denied others their source of food. The commercial fishing industry unintentionally kills or otherwise harms many other aquatic animals, especially through the use of seine nets and massive “drift nets”.

Numerous species of fish are in rapid decline, such as Atlantic cod, swordfish, and blue marlin. In some cases, the fishing industry moves on to target the food source of a species after it has been overfished, making the species’ revival even more difficult.

RECREATIONAL BOATING

Even yachts, jet skis, and recreational motorboats have a consequential impact on the environment and wildlife. Although they are smaller, their actions are collectively vast; just in Wisconsin there are about 635 thousand registered recreational boats. They are also more likely to have inefficient two-stroke engines.

Motorized watercraft often leak oil into the water, the loud noise of engines disturbs aquatic birds, and their pollution raises ozone levels. Jet skis and PWCs have especially high emissions. Boaters have also unknowingly transported invasive species from one region to another, much to the detriment of other species and the marine environment in general.

Recreational boat engines remain one of the largest sources of nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon pollution throughout much of the United States. These emissions cause various breathing-related health problems, contribute to acid rain, affect plant growth, and create “smog”.

ADDITIONAL EFFECTS

Other types of environmental harm have been promoted by both recreational and commercial vessels. Waste from boating supplies and defunct equipment often ends up in landfills, contributing to their expansion. Much oil, bauxite, glass, and timber go into the manufacture of new boats, motors, and accessories, each with their own associated impact.

Military, commercial, and recreational boats consume substantial quantities of fuel and lubricant oil every day, increasing the environmental damage caused by the petroleum production industry. The impact from constantly using large trucks to haul boats from one place to another is also not insignificant.

MARINAS & PORTS

Marinas and ports are another component of the marine industry which affects the environment. Fuel pumping, boat repair, washing, and engine storage all have the potential to pollute water. Other concerns include contaminated runoff water and proper disposal of hazardous marine products.

Fortunately, many marinas have taken serious measures to reduce their impact upon the environment in recent years. However, a survey of New Hampshire marinas in 2006 showed that at least a quarter of these establishments still need to make significant changes before they might be considered environment friendly.

PREVENTION

Some harm to the marine environment is caused by accident, including oil and chemical spills. Poor weather conditions often precede such accidents. Vessel operators can help to prevent them by regularly monitoring weather reports, taking adequate safety precautions, and ensuring that they employ fully qualified personnel.

Although they cost more and have some disadvantages regarding maintenance and repair, double-hulled tanker ships are generally much less likely to leak oil or chemicals when ruptured. Proper maintenance is also very important for preventing such spills, regardless of the ship’s design. With some exceptions, the oil industry is legally required to switch over to double-hulled tankers by 2015.

Other damage to the environment comes about intentionally, usually to save (or make) the ship owner money; discharging sewage in the water, overfishing, toxic waste dumping, etc. Strict national and international marine environment laws, monitoring, and enforcement are needed to prevent such acts. Intentional violations are more likely to occur in waters which lack government law enforcement, such as off the coast of Somalia.

Another major element of the marine industry’s impact upon the environment is routine operation. This cannot be entirely prevented, but could be limited by stricter government regulations on boat engine manufacturing and marine fuel production. Individual boaters can also reduce its effect by applying tips such as those listed at the end of this article.

CHANGES TO MAKE

Although the marine industry has already caused significant damage to the environment, it isn’t too late to make positive changes. The reductions in marine sewage discharges, radioactive waste dumping, small engine emissions, and major oil spills show that improvements are feasible – but much still remains to be accomplished.

While it isn’t possible for the marine industry to completely eliminate its environmental impact, boaters can take many steps to decrease its effect. Such measures often make boating more enjoyable and less expensive as well. Here are some examples (9-15 mostly apply to recreational boating):

1. Use fuel additives that reduce emissions and decrease marine fuel consumption.

2. Avoid releasing invasive species through ballast water discharges.

3. Ensure that your vessel’s engine receives proper maintenance on a regular basis.

4. Periodically examine your fuel lines and repair any cracks to prevent leakage.

5. Always use pump out facilities to release sewage waste from your vessel’s holding tank.

6. Using low-pollution marine engines significantly decreases noise, emissions, and fuel consumption.

7. When cleaning your boat’s bilge, forgo emulsifier or detergent cleaning products.

8. Avoid putting unnecessary, heavy objects in your powerboat or other motorized vessel; this increases fuel usage.

9. Consider using an electric outboard motor if you have a dinghy, small motorboat, or inflatable.

10. Don’t approach marine animals too closely; bring binoculars to get a better look at wildlife.

11. Avoid using a large powerboat, speedboat, or jet ski on small lakes.

12. If possible, keep any objects containing hazardous substances (batteries, oil, mercury, etc) in a sealed container attached to the boat.

13. Outboard engines should be “dry stored” during the winter to prevent antifreeze from being released into the environment.

14. Recycle protective marine shrinkwrap instead of discarding it.

15. Use marinas that offer recycling facilities and uphold environment friendly practices.

MarineFuel.com’s green & recycling articles provide additional tips for mariners looking to limit their impact on the environment.

SOURCES:
1. ANS Task Force
2. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2005, CD-ROM: Fishing Vessels, Fisheries, Major Oil Spills Throughout the World, Exxon Valdez, Spain, Water Pollution

3. Mindscape Complete Reference Library 1995 , CD-ROM: Spills, Metric and U.S. Equivalents
4. Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/Region1/ra/column/archive/2003/boating_me_071503.html
http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/cruise_ships/
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/marinas/index.html

5.   Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
6.   World Wildlife Fund
7.   Planet Ark
8.   Greenpeace (PDF)
9.   Living on Earth” transcript (1999)
10. CBS News
11. International Maritime Organization
12. New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

Water, which consists of hydrogen and oxygen, accounts for about 7/10ths of our planet’s area above ground (some of it frozen). It also exists underground, where it is a major source of drinking water. Most life cannot survive without adequate water, which makes up a major portion of the body weight in many living things.

  

Although it covers so much of the earth, humans may consume relatively little of the water without costly desalination. About ninety-seven percent of the water is salted and just over two percent is frozen year-around. This makes it especially important to preserve clean water in lakes and streams.

Clean water is also a necessity for most wildlife, especially fish and aquatic birds. Heavily polluted water can quickly kill thousands of marine animals, which harms the birds and mammals that feed on such creatures as well. Acid rain, runoff, fuel spills, manufacturing, sewage, and other sources of pollution contaminate water.

As water evaporates from the surface of the Earth it releases moisture into the air, increases humidity, and adds to the formation of clouds. Evaporation is mostly caused by the heat of the sun, sometimes with the help of the wind. It may produce rain in the same area or send it elsewhere, depending upon the current wind speed and how much humidity has already accumulated. 

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Read what ecoearth.org has to say about Marine debris.

Oxygen and nitrogen make up much of the Earth’s air, which is vital for the existence of life. Even animals that live underwater need air; they obtain it by removing oxygen from the water. Air also contains minor quantities of helium, xenon, neon, and other gases. The level of water vapor within the air determines how much humidity is present.

Weather forecasters sometimes issue advisories regarding air quality, usually based upon the levels of particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, and other types of air pollution. Health problems may occur while poor air quality persists. Although some people have the option to stay indoors under these conditions, most animals do not.

Humans have the ability to extract individual gases from the air. Factories use these gases in the process of manufacturing steel, computer chips, and fertilizer products. Air is also used for inflation purposes, making neon signs, and running compressed air power tools, among other uses.

WIND
Wind is air in rapid motion. Excluding man-made “wind” created by machines like fans and automobiles, wind is produced by differences in temperature on Earth. Thus it is indirectly generated from the sun’s heat, and often increases when cold or warm fronts arrive.

Wind causes many changes in weather necessary to the natural environment. This makes it possible for plants to receive the mix of sun and rain they need to survive. Along with certain animals, wind helps to spread the seeds and pollen of many plants.

People have long used the wind as an inexhaustible source of energy for sailboat travel, windmills, and wind-based electricity generation. Flat, exposed areas like fields, lakes, and oceans tend to receive more wind than other parts of the Earth.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
The most significant contributor to the environment outside of planet Earth is the sun. In addition to providing light and warmth, the sun produces photosynthesis in numerous plants and bacteria. This gives them energy needed to grow and reproduce. It also creates oxygen in the air, which adds to the many benefits gained by preserving Earth’s forested areas.

DECOMPOSITION
After plants and animals die, bacteria and fungi help decompose their remains. They become part of the soil, and living plants gain nutrition from them. Other animals benefit from this by using the plants for food or shelter. Thus even the natural death of wildlife and plants eventually benefits the Earth, if it is not in excess.

OZONE LAYER
Although plants and animals cannot survive on Earth without the sun, its light can also be damaging. The ozone layer, part of the atmosphere, protects the planet from ultraviolet solar rays – somewhat like a glass window filters out various elements of sunlight but allows the rest to pass through.

Certain types of pollution eat away at the planet’s ozone layer. Without its protection, humans and animals would be far more susceptible to sunburns, skin cancer, and other health problems. Ozone is only beneficial as part of the atmosphere’s ozone layer; it acts as a harmful pollutant in air at lower altitudes, causing various ailments.

INTERCONNECTION
Many elements of planet Earth’s environment depend upon each other to exist. Without sufficient water and sunlight, plants will stop growing. Plant-eating animals soon have nothing to eat or drink, and cannot benefit from the oxygen released by plants. After these animals die, the carnivorous animals and humans cannot eat. Thus it is very important to preserve each segment of the environment and wildlife.

The loss of a plant or animal species might not only affect the creatures which use it for food. Plants may depend on it to pollinate them or spread their seeds. One species’ extinction might result in the overpopulation of another species, causing starvation and harm to other wildlife. Some animals (and humans) also use certain plants for shelter or materials to build shelters from.

Certain animal and plant species inadvertently help each other survive in other ways. For instance, some small birds and insects kill parasites which harm larger animals or plants. Ladybugs often remove and devour aphids from various plants the aphids eat. Beetles sometimes live with termites or ants, gaining protection in exchange for “cleaning” their nests.

AN EXAMPLE
Despite their small size, bees play a very important role in the environment of our planet. They produce honey, pollinate various flowering plants, and provide a food source for some birds and other insects. Without them, many humans, plants, and animals would likely disappear from the Earth.

Unfortunately, their numbers have been declining in some regions, with various man-made causes possibly to blame. In one part of China, bees were completely eliminated due to pesticide use. Pear farmers in that region must now pollinate their trees by hand, a massive effort which was once accomplished easily by bees.

PROPER BALANCE
It is also important for most components of the Earth’s ecosystem to be well-balanced. Too many of a certain plant or animal can damage the environment, and too much (or little) water or sunlight causes droughts and floods. Occasional disbalances typically occur, but such problems can be exacerbated by influences like:

1. Species transferred to an area they don’t normally live in, where they have no predators. Boats, birds, and animal traffickers may accidentally release such plants and animals into the environment. People often refer to them as “invasive species”, and they remain a particular concern in lakes and ponds.

Invasive species aren’t always unusual, unfamiliar creatures or marine plants. For example, when goats were brought to small islands for the first time by humans, their population increased rapidly because no predator existed. They ate too many of the islands’ plants, eventually causing other animal species to become extinct.

2. Climate change, which is worsened by pollution and overpopulation, increases the likelihood of serious environmental disbalances like hurricanes and forest fires. It has the capability to cause the extinction of many species and raise the sea level over small islands. Rising temperatures increase the potential for lightening and heavy wind, while fueling hurricanes as they pass over warm water.

3. Severe deforestation (often caused by excessive logging) can lead to desertification, making an area uninhabitable for most plants and animals. In regions affected by large storms, the lack of plant life often follows deforestation with severe flooding, because there are no trees or shrubs to slow down moving water.

OTHER INFLUENCES
In addition to the major weather-related influences like wind, water, and sunlight, various other natural phenomenon affect the environment of planet Earth. Natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanoes can destroy forests, cause tidal waves, and release clouds of ash into the air. The moon’s gravitational pull causes tides in the ocean. Also, the rotation of the Earth influences wind movement, especially in a hurricane or cyclone.

OVERALL
Without wind, water, and air, there wouldn’t be any plants, which would eliminate the ability of animals or humans to exist on Earth. The planet’s environment would cease to function without any one of these major elements, and can be severely disrupted by the loss of a plant or animal species. Thus it is important not to overlook the necessity of any one species or environmental factor, and to prevent disbalances in the ecosystem whenever possible.

SOURCES:
1. Mindscape Complete Reference Library 1995, CD-ROM: Air, Wind, Water, Water Supply of the World, Environment

2. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2005, CD-ROM: Air, Photosynthesis, Beetle, Environment, Atmosphere, Ecology

3. Pesticide Action Network UK (PDF)
4. AIRNow

Earth

A complex, interconnected system makes up the Earth’s surface environment, where elements like water, air, wind, sunlight, and the atmosphere work together to sustain plant and animal life. Read on to learn more about how the ecosystem of planet Earth functions so effectively, and what the consequences of disrupting it can be: