What We Must Fix; The Plastic Highways
The waterways are now called ‘Plastic Highways.’. Due to COVID-19, inevitably, disposable items have increased. Now, we are facing the question of where have these disposable items gone; the ocean. The ocean gives humanity a wide variety of resources, including oxygen; it regulates temperature, fosters economic growth, and serves as a habitat for species. In the following paragraphs, I'll discuss the importance of ocean rehabilitation, several methods for doing so, and the reasons why I chose certain enterprises. Global warming and the significance of the oceans are serious issues that we must pay attention to when we have $10 billion to spend on improving the globe.
The ocean is unable to supply oxygen because of the waste and pollution it has accumulated. The ocean covers about 70% of our globe. The ocean produces oxygen, provides a home for organisms, and maintains the earth's temperature. The ocean produces more than 50% of the oxygen we breathe today. The ocean's surface layer is covered in a specific type of plankton, called photosynthetic plankton - a kind of plankton with the capacity to make oxygen. One of this plankton,’ Prochlorococcus,’ a form of photosynthetic plankton, was exposed to a chemical generated from plastic bags, which caused the genes in the plankton to stop operating as they should. This happened due to the plastic preventing this plankton from receiving sunlight, preventing photosynthesis. There was more than a 2% oxygen decrease between 1960 and 2010 due to the decreasing numbers of plankton, which provides oxygen. Although 2% may not sound like much, if this continues, the harm will be permanent.
Furthermore, the earth's temperature is also one of the most crucial factors in the fight against climate change. The ocean has the capability to maintain the Earth’s temperature. This giant reservoir continuously operates to exchange heat, moisture, and carbon dioxide, which influences the changes in the climate. In the past century, the temperature of the Korean Peninsula has risen by about 1.5 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, "If global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise without mitigation, average precipitation in Korea could be 172.5 mm higher in 2071–2100 than it was in 1981–2010," the IEA says. The global temperature is significantly influenced by the amount of heat stored in the oceans, as well as the amount of carbon dioxide. Furthermore, the ocean can absorb greenhouse gas emissions: ‘It absorbs more than 25% of all carbon dioxide and captures 90% of excess heat generated from other gases, making it the largest carbon sink.’(U.N., N.A.) However, when the ocean is overwhelmed by plastic, its capacity to absorb heat is limited. This means that even when the ocean is absorbing as much heat as possible, temperatures will continue to rise.
Waste in the ocean causes immense damage to the ecosystem and the ocean food chain. Looking at the superficial side of the damage, sea creatures frequently mistake plastic bags or straws for prey. However, microplastics cause significant damage to plankton populations. Due to the inability of some planktonic species to thrive in plastic-filled environments, little fish, crabs, and other animals would eventually lose their diet since there would be fewer and fewer food sources available to them. Due to each animal having a decreasing amount of prey, this will eventually lead to animals higher up the food chain.
There are now three key advancements that have to take place to stop more waste from entering the oceans and to clean the water. According to a landmark paper published in 2015 by the eminent solid-waste scientist Jenna Jambeck, eight million metric tons of plastic, largely via rivers, are transported from the land into the seas; the following three inventions are made to stop this. 'Mr. Trash Wheel Family', 'The Ocean Clean Up', and ‘The Great Bubble Barrier’, are three separate groups that support these technologies. By spending $10 billion to improve these three technical developments, the ability to remove additional ocean debris will be demonstrated. ¼ of $10 billion is spent on Developing the Interceptor barricade, ¼ on constructing more interceptors, ¼ on constructing more trash wheels along the earth, and ¼ on creating more bubble barriers.
First, the interceptor, an invention made to collect waste in rivers to prevent it from flowing into the ocean. The interceptor is a long barrier line that stretches in the direction of the waste drifts; the barrier has a conveyor belt connected that transports the waste gathered to the interceptor's body, which resembles a yacht. It often works with a 600-meter-long U-shaped tube that flows along the river to collect trash. The interceptor is entirely powered by solar energy, which is environmentally favorable. The interceptor proved successful in removing more than 50 tons of plastic waste per day from waterways, collecting 1,500 tons of trash in the river in Baltimore. Currently, there are 11 interceptor places around the world, however, the ambition of this NGO is to make the 1000 most polluted rivers in the world accessible through this interceptor.
The interceptors ‘Original’, ‘ Barrier’, ‘Tender’, and ‘Barricade’. Due to having a variety of interceptors, we can utilize them in different circumstances to extract the most waste. Unfortunately, Interceptor Barricade is in the process of development, currently in the stage of trialing. "To withstand these exceptional high-pressure events, we developed a new Interceptor concept for this location." (The Ocean Cleanup, N.A.) To capture debris from floods and tsunamis during the rainy season, interceptor barricades were constructed. Since this NGO has continuously showcased immense effort and strives to accomplish its purpose of cleaning up the sea, there is a reason to invest in it. They continuously try to develop inventions to make the world better, such as the Interceptor barricade, which may lead to more improvements in the future.
Additionally, a company with the same goal developed the trash wheel, which is a crucial tool in the process of cleaning up the ocean. The trash wheel can directly gather the waste from the ocean, therefore, it is not limited to only collecting trash from rivers. The removal of hundreds of tons of waste from the water each year is accomplished by Mr. Trash Wheel with the use of a specialized mix of solar and electricity. It is fueled by a renewable source of energy and is built to withstand the most severe storms. The majority of this apparatus may be found on the Baltimore River, in addition to numerous other ports. The waterfront partnership of Baltimore, which is a local company that does not want to make a profit, worked together with the Trash Wheel in the hopes of increasing production all over the globe. In addition to that, this promises the chance that this enterprise will continue to grow.
The non-governmental organization offers a source of information to the general public that addresses the dependability of the garbage wheel and that offers an idea of the total quantity of rubbish that was collected. Investors no longer need to be worried about the possibility that their money may be utilized in a manner that is inconsistent with the purpose for which it was originally intended since they can monitor its progress. On April 24th, 2023, the non-governmental organization (NGO) was successful in collecting 5 tons of rubbish; in all, 1,855 tons of waste had been gathered since the NGO was established. In a manner of speaking similar to this, the non-governmental organization (NGO) details on its blog the total number of plastic bags collected, which amounts to 938,626. Consequently, this results in investments that are more trustworthy.
Finally, the implementation of the Great Bubble Barrier represents a viable approach to addressing ocean pollution. The Barrier's functionality is achieved through the aeration of the water column via a perforated tube located at the waterway's base, which generates a bubble curtain. The aforementioned mechanism produces a bubble screen, which serves the purpose of impeding the ingress of plastic materials into the water body, while simultaneously guiding the suspended plastic particles towards the water surface. A Bubble Barrier of a permanent nature has been installed in a canal located in Amsterdam, to obstruct the passage of plastic waste into the IJssel and ultimately, the North Sea. In a trial conducted in the River IJssel of the Netherlands, it was demonstrated that the technology under consideration can impede 86% of the oceanic debris. In addition, it yielded oxygen, thereby conferring advantages to marine organisms.
When contemplating an investment in this specific technology, it is noteworthy to acknowledge that it presents three primary advantages that are infrequently encountered in other innovations. Initially, it encompassed both the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the watercourse. The implementation of a barrier that can cover the entire depth has the potential to enhance the efficiency of trash collection. Moreover, it facilitates the passage of marine organisms without causing any harm to the ecological balance. Similarly, the implementation of bubble curtains serves to mitigate the noise pollution generated by maritime vessels. Thirdly, the model does not account for activities carried out in the river, such as the operation of ships and boats. Hence, it is imperative to invest in this corporation.
Not only do these inventions create a cleaner ocean. They also raise awareness around the world. "I’m still kind of in shock about how much attention it has garnered," said Kellet, the creator of Trash Wheel. (The New Yorker, N.A.) The NGO had created a social media account to foster attention with the help of large googly eyes attached to the Trash Wheel. This resulted in the trash wheel becoming a city attraction and people taking photos and selfies with it, further making people acknowledge its presence. With the rise of this social norm, "Don’t Feed Mr.Trash Trash Wheel" became a popular campaign to bring awareness; with the creation of goods related to the Trash Wheel, for example, T-shirts. The Trash Wheel NGO also works with a professional PR company to maximize media exposure. It also has enough sponsorship, a key to infinite possibilities. Furthermore, when more Trash wheels are installed, more people will be able to access them, making them more and more well-known. Therefore, more NGOs will be paying attention to the problem of the seas, leading to better progress to make the world cleaner—an overall positive chain effect.
The aforementioned technology represents a groundbreaking concept in the battle against oceanic climate change. Given the substantial impact of the ocean on our contemporary world, it is a prudent choice to allocate investment resources toward it. The natural environment furnishes the human race with vital oxygen, sustains a pristine ecosystem, and regulates the temperature of the planet. The remediation of the ocean may significantly aid in the mitigation of climate change. Implementing these inventions: Interceptor, Trash Wheel, and Bubble barrier—will result in a massive difference in the future. The prioritization of investing in these inventions is attributed to their demonstrated significant impact, as evidenced by statistical data. Moreover, the cleanup of the ocean not only yields positive impacts but also serves as a means to raise awareness about the oceans. As the proliferation of inventions increases, so too will their visibility among the masses. Hence, investing funds in the implementation of advanced technology in the ocean is a prudent decision.
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