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Oceans, the magnificent water bodies that cover 75 percent of our planet Earth is said to have born 3.8 billion years ago. They underwent a series of million changes to become what we see today, and the process continues. However, in the last six to seven decades, human activities have damaged the mighty waters and the marine life, beyond measure making it overflow with filth. Since 2008, World Oceans Day is observed on June 8 to create awareness about the threats the oceans are facing. From global warming, overfishing, construction, shipping activities, an array of problems have had a terrible impact on the life of oceans. 5 Biggest Threats to Our Oceans and Marine Life!
The theme for World Oceans Day 2019 is 'Gender and the Ocean' which urges for gender literacy and to find ways to promote gender equality in ocean-related activities like marine scientific research, fisheries, labour at sea among others. While there is an ardent effort to save our oceans and its resources, the voice mostly seems to be falling on deaf ears. However, there continues to exist a land beneath water, untouched by humans and their discoveries. The water is mysterious, beautiful, humbling, overpowering and at the same time terrifying. World Oceans Day 2019: Date, Theme and Significance of The Day Honouring Ocean and Its Habitat.
And as we celebrate World Oceans Day 2019, we take a look at the beauty below water, which till today largely remains unexplored.
1. Number of Oceans
For many years only four oceans were officially recognized, in 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization established the Southern Ocean, and determined its limits. So, we currently have five oceans i.e. Arctic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and the Southern Ocean.
2. 50-80% of the Oxygen we Breathe Comes From Oceans
Most of the oxygen we breathe comes from tiny marine plants in the ocean i.e. phytoplankton, kelp, and algal plankton. These marine plants release it as a byproduct of photosynthesis. Among the marine algae, Phytoplankton is estimated to be mostly responsible for one in every five breaths a human takes. 4 Truths That Make Us Wonder Whether The Earth Will Survive 50 Years From Now.
3. Only 3% of Oceans Have Been explored
Humans have explored the Moon better than the oceans. It is estimated that only three percent of the world's oceans have been explored until now. According to a 2011 study published in PLoS Biology, it is currently estimated that 91 percent of the species which exist under the sea have yet to be discovered. Turtle Graveyard in Indian Ocean! Spooky Skeletons of Sea Turtles Found in Underwater Caves in Malaysia (Watch Video)
4. Oceans are Home to 3 Million Shipwreck Other Than Artefacts and History
The ocean has seen the most number of shipwrecks than anyone of us. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, from Titanic to Christopher Columbus's Santa Maria, the oceans houses three million shipwrecks. Around 1,000 shipwrecks lie off the Florida Keys alone, some of which are within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Oceans have more artefacts than all museums combined in the whole Earth. Some of the underwater museums created in recent times include the Mediterranean's submerged bronze statue, Christ of the Abyss.
6. Lowest Point of the Ocean Floor
The Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is the deepest known point in Earth's oceans. In 2010, the United States Center for Coastal & Ocean Mapping measured the depth of the Challenger Deep at 10,994 meters below sea level. It is equal to piling 36 Eiffel Towers on top of each other! Plastic Pollution Reaches Deepest Place on Earth! American Explorer Finds Plastic Litter on His Record-Breaking Dive to Mariana Trench (Watch Video)
Watch the video below to know the depth of the ocean:
7. Oceans Withholds Waterfalls, Lakes, Rivers, Islands and Earth's Longest Chain of Mountains
While Mount Everest is the highest mountain above sea-level at 8km, the Mid-Ocean Ridge which stretches across a distance of 65,000 kilometres is longest mountain range on the Earth. The oceans also have lakes, rivers, islands and waterfalls. The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest ocean contains around 25,000 islands.
Here's an underwater lake:
8. Waste
More than eight million tons of plastic is dumped into our oceans every year. According to Greenpeace UK, our oceans contain an estimate of 12.7 million tonnes of plastic. Dolphins, sharks, tortoise and many other marine animals die almost everyday choking on plastic waste. Another issue that is killing the ocean is the dumping of toxic waste. Everything from medical waste, oil spill, chemicals end up in the ocean polluting it to the core. Turtles From All Seven Oceans in The World Have Microplastics in Their Body! New Study Reveals Shocking Extents of Plastic Pollution.
According to the World Register of Marine Species, there are now 2,40,470 accepted species, however, that is just a tiny speck of dot compared the vast marine life. The life below water is vast, beautiful, calm and chaotic at the same time. Oceans are necessary for our survival; ocean currents administer the world's weather the life that lives on this planet. Adverse human interference for timely benefits has affected their governing duty, which in return is making human existence on this planet questionable in the near future. This World Oceans Day, let's pledge to care for the oceans and do what we can to protect it.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 08, 2019 08:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
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