When we think about protecting the oceans, Cleveland isn’t usually the first city that comes to mind. Yet, even from the shores of Lake Erie, our everyday decisions can ripple far beyond Ohio—and have real consequences for marine ecosystems across the globe.
To explain how inland communities such as Cleveland are tied to the health of the oceans in recognition of World Oceans Day (June 6), The Daily spoke with Peter Whiting, professor of earth, environmental, and planetary sciences at Case Western Reserve University.
Read on to learn Whiting’s insights.
1. Pollution here flows downstream.
We are connected to the rest of the world. What enters Lake Erie—pollutants, plastics, etc.—can flow out through the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Atlantic Ocean. And areas just south of Cleveland drain to the Ohio River, and then the Mississippi River, and ultimately to the Gulf of Mexico. What we put in the atmosphere—carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulates—falls out downwind polluting land and water including oceans or contributes to global warming.
Then there are our consumer decisions—what seafood do we eat and is it sustainably harvested? What products do we use that are shipped across oceans? Commercial shipping including the movement of petroleum can produce water pollution up to the catastrophic oil spills for local marine ecosystems.
But, let’s return to our production of greenhouse gases that warms our atmosphere and oceans. Warmer waters expand, thus raising sea level. Warmer ocean water stresses coral reefs which are amongst the most biodiverse areas on earth. Higher atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide causes ocean acidification which makes it more difficult for organisms to extract calcium from sea water to build skeletons and shells.
2. Pollution takes many forms—not just plastics.
While we can see larger plastic pieces in the ocean (think of debris on the beach or images of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch), our local contribution to oceanic pollution is going to be in the form of chemical and metal pollution, nutrient pollution, and microplastics (very small pieces of plastic and fiber up to ¼ inch across). These pollutants move with the water either suspended in the water or dissolved in the water.
A danger is that pollutants that reach the ocean can accumulate in sea life and make it unhealthy for us to eat some of our favorite fish or shellfish. Excess runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus to oceans can create dead zones because the excess nutrients stimulate the growth of algae and other phytoplankton. When these algae die, their decomposition depletes the water of oxygen, hence the creation of a zone with little marine life. Another algal bloom linked to marine nutrients are red tides. Shellfish are filter feeders and will be contaminated by such blooms and become unsafe to eat.
3. Small choices can make a big difference.
Everyday choices, our decision-making, can make a difference for the health of the seas. We can ask: How much water was used and pollution was generated to create the product I might buy? How much plastic packaging is used when I buy something at the store or online? What kind of clothes do I wear and how much fiber is shed when I wash them? We can make choices to reduce atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gases by using less energy in our daily activities—driving less, using less electricity in our homes, and making our homes more weathertight.
The hydrologic cycle does indeed connect our freshwater and marine ecosystems. Yet because Cleveland is not near the ocean we may forget that our local decisions and policies can have downstream effects on the ocean. Cleveland can set an example for other inland cities by valuing and therefore protecting clean freshwater. Clean freshwater in our streams, rivers, and lakes will help keep oceans cleaner and healthier.