Riders on the Stormwater

Water seeks its own level and it takes pollution hitchikers with it. From the time water is drawn up into the sky through evaporation it begins its search for a way back to its lowest point - the sea. When raindrops fall they create millions of tiny explosions. Falling on mountains, forests, fields and towns the rain water either sinks into the ground or begins to slide into folds and creases in the land to form rivulets and streams.

Stormwater run-off sinks into ephemeral wetlands, or collects in lakes or is channeled into stormwater drains that eventually spill out into rivers or directly to ocean outfalls. Scientific reports advise that between 80-95% of marine pollution comes from the land. Stormwater drags with it harmful pollution from a wide range of daily human activities. This fated journey coupled with the amazing natural cleansing properties of water is the perfect pollution transportation system. 

Teachers!  Looking for activities and resources on Stormwater run-off click here to go to AUSMEPA's unit on Marine Stormwater Pollution. 

Are some oceans or seas more polluted than others? Try Googling 'polluted oceans' for more links

Australian Offshore Laws by Dr. Michael White

Dr White has been closely associated with AUSMEPA for many years. His book Australian Offshore Laws takes into account that our lands are bounded by three great oceans and the lives of all Australians depend on them for importing/exporting goods by sea, controlling our climate, and a plethora of other activities generating billions of dollars in wealth.

Australians live within an enormous maritime territory, the Economic Exclusive Zone. What laws apply to offshore waters will be of great interest to teachers and students studying what the legal obligations for our maritime interests, and what reforms should be considered for this incredibly valuable economic, social and environmental asset.

 To find out more about Australian Offshore Laws click here.

The End of the Line - educational version DVD

The movie "End of the Line" has become a wake-up call to the world. The movie shows firsthand the effects of our global love affair with fish as food - the imminent extinction of bluefin tuna, human impacts resulting in huge overpopulation of jellyfish with the profound implications of a future world without fish.

To get hold of the educational version DVD please contact Tiphanee Athans
Email: tiphanee@dviq.com.au
Phone: (02) 8879 7003 

Click here for more information and enquiries relating to screenings of releases at film festivals and markets, or footage produced by DViQ

Whale poop is vital to ocean's carbon cycle

Our friends at Henley Beach MDC alerted us to an article in NEWSCIENTIST; by Wendy Zukerman that gives a new ecosystem slant on the importance of whale conservation.

“Saving endangered baleen whales could boost the carbon storage capacity of the Southern Ocean, suggests a new study of whale faeces. Whale faeces once provided huge quantities of iron to a now anaemic Southern Ocean, boosting the growth of carbon-sequestering phytoplankton.”
“The amount of iron in whale faeces means that protecting Antarctic whales could swell populations of phytoplankton, which absorb carbon dioxide." 

(See the Scientist image showing krill circling the whale pooh)

"Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) feed on the phytoplankton, concentrating the iron in their tissue. And in turn, baleen whales eat the krill.”

To read the article in full click here

How common are tornadoes in Australia? ABC Science article

Ask an Expert (ABC Science) posted a timely article on tornadoes in Australia (click here for the article)

Included are two great images that tell the story -  one by Dirk Terrill and the other by Matt Walker.

ABC Science does an excellent job of providing a broad stroke of interesting and informative articles. Click here

OCEANS OF LIFE: WORLD OCEAN DAY June 8th, 2010

The Ocean Project (click here for events) has everything you need to know about World Ocean Day. Here is an excerpt taken from the website to whet your appetite.

"As a result of a United Nations General Assembly resolution passed in December 2008, World Oceans Day is now officially recognized by the UN as June 8th each year. The concept for a “World Ocean Day” was first proposed in 1992 by the Government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and it had been unofficially celebrated every year since then."

Since 2002, The Ocean Project and the World Ocean Network have helped to promote and coordinate World Oceans Day events worldwide. We help coordinate events and activities with aquariums, zoos, museums, conservation organizations, universities, schools, and businesses. Each year an increasing number of countries and organizations have been marking June 8th as an opportunity to celebrate our world ocean and our personal connection to the sea." 

AUSMEPA Bulletin Autumn 2010

AUSMEPA Bulletin Autumn 2010 is available
In this issue you will find the following articles:

• DEEPWATER HORIZON AND OIL SPILL UPDATES,
• PACIFIC ADVENTURER OIL SPILL REPORT,
• NEW MEASURES TO PROTECT THE GREAT BARRIER REEF,
• ALL SHIPS LOG,
• INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY,
• WORLD OCEAN DAY EVENT,
• TORRES STRAIT MARINE LITERACY PROJECT,
• AUSMEPA's 10th Anniversary,

MORE FOR TEACHERS…..

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