Sophia Dobbins Article on Ocean Pollution and Marine Debris

      I recently read an article from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration about pollution in the ocean and the effects it is having. The article discussed the difference between nonpoint pollution which is the most common form of pollution and comes from runoff from things such as septic tanks, vehicles and agricultural lands and then point pollution which has greater effects but is much less common coming from things such as oil spills. The article also discussed that sometimes it's not what exactly is being polluted but how much of it is dispersed into the environment. For example nitrogen and phosphorus can be helpful to marine life but in large concentrations cause algae blooms or dead zones that harm or kill marine life. The final point the article hit on was that of garbage patches. The collection of marine debris from microplastics to fishing gear that get pushed together by ocean currents creating the garbage patch. These patches are constantly changing and range in size and shape. Overall this article was a great overview of what is occuring in our oceans in terms of pollution and the effects it is having. 

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