How to Save the Unique Caspian Sea
View PDF | Print View
(Click print view to publish this article on your site. Then copy and paste. Leave the Author and Article Source links intact!)
by: terence
Total views: 333
Word Count: 562
The Caspian Sea is unique. It is a relic of the ancient Tethys Ocean and became locked in land more than 5 million years ago. Now it is the largest landlocked body of water on planet Earth measured by area. Scientists cannot decide whether to classify it as a sea or as a lake, yet they all agree that the water pollution of the Caspian Sea is a global problem. It’s baisin area exceeds 3,6 million square kilometers and includes Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan.
The water pollution in the region started more than 150 years ago with the discovery of oil. In recent years it has become a major problem of preserving the ecological health of the unique natural object, the Caspian Sea. It is exceptional for its hydrocarbon resources and biological wealth and is very important for all the world.
Water pollution
The main pollutant of Caspian Sea is undoubtedly oil. Oil pollution suppresses the natural development of the Caspian Sea phytoplankton represented by blue-green algae, thus reducing the formation of oxygen. Increased pollution adversely affects heat, gas and water exchange between sea water surface and atmosphere. Because of the wide distribution of an oil-film on the surface, evaporation rate is reduced by several times. The water pollution of the Caspian Sea led to the deaths of vast numbers of rare fish species and other living organisms.
In the marine environment of Caspian Sea, along with hydrocarbon based water contaminants there are heavy and transitional metals - introduced as a component of industrial waste and oil waste with a river flow. Metals polluting Caspian Sea tend to represent different types of ecological impacts like physical, chemical, biological. As micronutrients, metals are of great importance in the lives of fish and other aquatic organisms. Metals are part of the enzymes, vitamins, hormones that are involved in the biochemical processes occurring in fish and other living beings. However, when heavy metals prevail in the water in large concentrations, they harm proteins, have antibiotic effect on micro-organisms and affect the life processes by causing genetic changes.
The water pollution analysis currently shows that the biggest concentration of heavy and transition metals in the water of the Caspian Sea accounts for copper, zinc and barium.
Problem Solution
Water pollution problems of the Caspian Sea are serious and require urgent measures to protect the environment in the region. For the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the environmental conditions in Caspian Sea region, the Caspian Environment Program was started by Governments of the five littoral states back in 1998. Strategic action plan was developed to improve the environmental situation of the Caspian Sea.
Much of the damage to nature done by human activity, remains outside of the economic calculations. It was the lack of economic valuation, biodiversity and environmental services that lead to the fact that planners of the near-Caspian states preferred economical gains over the development of light industries, agricultural industry, eco-tourism and a sustainable use of environmental resources.
The possibility of recovery of the Caspian Sea largely depends on rigorous action by the littoral states. However, it is the responsibility of the humandkind as a whole, to look after the key resources of our planet. So far, with a large number of green decisions and plans, there is no system and criteria for monitoring their performance.
About the Author
Terence Green is an environmental activist campaigning about green energy development. Learn more about corn energy and support the environmental article directory by submitting your own thoughts and publishing the materials on your sites for other people's consideration.
Rating: Not yet rated
Login to vote