The worst oil spill of history
mapping of the worst oil spill of history
mapping of the worst oil spill of history
Worldwide, between 1974 and 1989, there were 774 accidents involving oil spills greater than 7 tonnes. Since 1970 there have only been two major spills (more than 1000 tonnes) in Australia. The following table indicates the number of reported spills and responses pursuant to the National Plan between 1994/95 and 1998/99.
Important advances have been in the design of oily water separating equipment for machinery space bilges and oil tanker discharges, and in the monitoring and control of the discharge of such mixtures. These technological advances have allowed international regulations to be adopted, reducing the permitted operational discharge of oil effluent from machinery space bilges from 100 parts per million (ppm) to 15ppm.
The introduction of industry practices such as crude oil washing for oil tankers, coupled with segregated ballast requirements for tankers, has contributed significantly towards reducing operational pollution. The entry into force of the international convention MARPOL 73/78 is credited with a substantial positive impact in decreasing the amount of oil that enters the sea from maritime transportation activities.
Between 1992 and 2008, world seaborne trade rose from 17,541 billion tonne miles to an estimated 32,746 billion tonne miles, an increase of around 85%. The carriage of oil and petroleum products accounts for a significant part of this increase, rising by about 40% from 8,043 billion tonne miles to an estimated 11,292 billion tonne miles during the same period.
On this picture you can see the marine ecosystem loss with on the left the key ecosystem services and on the right the major loss mechanisms. On the right you have dredging and boating effects. Coastal salinity chenges beacause of altered water flow for irrigation. THE POLLUTION DISCHARGED INTO THE SEA BY DIVERSE HUMAN ACTIVITIES CAUSES EUTROPHICATION WHICH REDUCES THE LIGHT AND THE OXYGEN IN THE WATER. ALL THOSE ASPECTS PLAY AN IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL ROLE IN DAMAGING MARINE ECOSYSTEMS.
Corals may be better placed to cope with the gradual acidification of the world's oceans than previously thought -- giving rise to hopes that coral reefs might escape climatic devastation.
Damage from disaster so severe that clean-up expected to take decades, according to latest examination of nuclear plant
Fiona Harvey
OECD report says pollution will become biggest cause of premature death, killing an estimated 3.6 million people a year by 2050
Millennium development goals: Two down, six to go
The United Nations has met two of its eight development goals, well ahead of the 2015 deadline. Six goals are left.