Currently, the Black Sea is an important part of the Atlantic Ocean and covers an area equal to 420325 km2. It is home to more than three thousand species of flora and fauna. A remarkable feature can be considered the fact that all of the above diversity is found only at a depth of no more than 150 m. Further, falling below this mark, right down to the very bottom, one can observe the complete absence of life forms, with rare exceptions in the form of anaerobic bacteria. This is due to the fact that the deep layers of water are a saturated solution of hydrogen sulfide. This is a destructive environment for all creatures that need oxygen to live normally.
Black Sea: environmental issues
Like any other modern body of water, this sea is subject to the negative influence of the anthropogenic factor. Every year, hundreds of tons of harmful substances are dumped into its pool. Such pollutants can be safely attributed to all organic and mineral fertilizers, which generously fertilize the soil.for a better harvest. It is they who, getting into the sea and accumulating in the water column, provoke the active reproduction of phytoplankton. When dying, such living organisms consume the oxygen contained in the water masses, and thus create certain problems. The Black Sea is covered with a whole layer of dead algae, which grows larger and larger every year. Under the influence of this factor, oxygen deficiency is observed in the near-bottom areas.
Ecological problems of the Black Sea are also determined by the following negative factors:
1. Pollution of the rivers flowing into it with sewage rainwater. This entails not only a decrease in the transparency of the waters and the bloom of the sea, but also the destruction of multicellular algae.
2. Pollution of water masses with oil products. Such environmental problems of the Black Sea are most common in the western part of the water area, where there are many ports and a large number of tanker traffic. As a result, there is the death of many representatives of flora and fauna, disruption of their normal life, as well as deterioration of the atmosphere due to the evaporation of oil and its derivatives.
3. Pollution of water masses with human waste products. Such environmental problems of the Black Sea are the result of the discharge of untreated and poorly treated wastewater. The main load falls on the northwestern part of the region. The main spawning grounds for fish and breeding of various species of animals and birds are also located there. Another significant factor is the active development of the coastline. ATAs a result, the bottom surface of the Black Sea shelf is polluted with cement dust and residues of chemicals used in construction.
4. The negative factors can also include mass fishing, which entails the inevitable and global restructuring of marine ecosystems.
These are the main environmental problems of the Black Sea.
