pollution, constant darkening has the potential to damage marine life that are dependent on light for survival
coastal-darkening

 What is coastal darkening?

As the term suggests, coastal darkening is the change in the color and clarity of coastal waters. Caused primarily by pollution, coastal darkening has the potential to damage marine life that is dependent on light for survival

Contributing factors


The mixing of fertilizer Danoff and industrial effluents and the dumping of waste and litter into the water are the main causes of coastal darkening, which is now seen in waters around the world. Chemical pollution leads to algal bloom, which further contributes to darkening. During heavy rains, organic matter-primarily from decaying plants and loose soil can enter oceans as a brown slurry. All of these prevent sun and moonlight from entering through the surface of the water. resulting in a darker underwater world.

Why does this matter?


Natural light is important to the ocean systems for several reasons. Light availability is associated with the physical, biological, and, chemical processes that take place in the ocean. It provides the energy necessary for ocean currents and wind-driven waves, All types of life forms in the ocean are ultimately dependent than e light and the process of photosynthesis it initiates. A recent study by scientists associated with the Coastal Ocean Darkening project showed that as more organic matter blocked sunlight from penetrating the water, phytoplankton concentrations dra dropped. As phytoplankton (marine oceanic food chain their decline could mean catastrophic. cascading consequences Plankton Plankton(marine algae) are the base of for Ocean the entire food chain. Though decreased light availability can benefit certain creatures, such as killer whales, that rely on darkness for hunting, it could ultimately create an imbalance in the ecosystem

Ocean darkening can change the chemical makeup of the water. For instance. sunlight, along with various microorganisms, break wn some toxic chemicals. including methyl mercury, that can which end up in waterways. Without sunlight, methyl mercury can linger in the water for long, potentially giving the pollutant enough time to seep through the food web to fish and, eventually, to humans.

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