• Question: if the ice caps do melt how will it affect the pollution in the seas and oceans?

    Asked by bubblesfish to Clare, Dave, Glo, Ozge, Sean on 22 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Clare Woulds

      Clare Woulds answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      Umm, it’s a lot of water, but I don’t think it is enough to dilute pollution a significant amount. The presence of lots of fresh water at the surface of the ocean may change ocean current patterns. Also the cause of the melting, CO2, is dissolving in the oceans and making them more acidic. That is a real problem associated with global warming.

    • Photo: Dave Sproson

      Dave Sproson answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      I’d agree with Clare there – putting lot of freshwater into the oceans could have a big impact on the biology, chemisty and physics of the oceans, but overall it isn’t going to be enough to change the poll ion levels of the ocean much.

    • Photo: Gloeta Massie

      Gloeta Massie answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      I’m going to have to defer to Clare and Dave on this one. In terms of current pollution though, have you ever seen information on the giant garbage patch gyres? I think those are really interesting and disturbing. Here’s some info on them:

      http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100302-new-ocean-trash-garbage-patch/

Comments