Skip to main content
Top

2021 | Book

Pollution in the Black Sea

Observations about the Ocean's Pollution

Authors: Prof. Konstantin Pokazeev, Prof. Elena Sovga, Prof. Tatiana Chaplina

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Book Series : Springer Oceanography

insite
SEARCH

About this book

This book provides information on the causes, consequences, and possible solutions to modern environmental problems associated with ocean pollution with a particular focus on the Back Sea. The oceans are a vast but fragile complex. In recent decades, it has become especially manifest when ocean pollution has reached an unparalleled situation. Meanwhile, not only the well-being of ecosystems depends on the state of ocean waters, but human civilization largely depends on the oceans as a consequence of environmental dependence.

This book examines the consequences of pollutants such as oil and hydrocarbon products (including plastics and microplastics), water acidification, sewage, wastewaters discharge into the ocean, thermal pollution, nuclear pollution, and biological pollution. Beyond the types of pollutants and their consequences, this book outlines the state of the art of the legal situation internationally regarding ocean pollution.

The authors also show the current pollution of the inland seas, taking as an example of the Black Sea (anthropogenic and natural sources of pollution, its shelf, and shallow waters as well as international legislation). A part of the book analyzes the main types of environmental monitoring of the oceans and their role in solving ocean pollution problems with a particular interest in the Black Sea.

The book is of interest to specialists in ocean pollution, ecologists, oceanologists, students, and graduate students studying oceanography, marine ecology, current methods of environmental monitoring, and legal problems related to the oceans and seas pollution, as well as to anyone interested in modern problems of the oceans.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. General Concepts of Pollution and Pollutants and Their Nature (Natural and Man-Made Sources of Pollution of the World’s Oceans)
Abstract
The general concepts of pollution and contaminants are given. Natural and anthropogenic sources of pollution of the World Ocean are analyzed. Modern problems of World Ocean pollution by the following pollutants and separate kinds of pollution are considered, among which: oil and oil products; water acidification; runoff—domestic waste discharged into the ocean; thermal pollution; electromagnetic pollution; radioactive pollution; chemical pollution; biological pollution. Three groups of pollutants are distinguished: conservative, biogenic and water-soluble. The ways of migration of pollutants and their transformation at the ocean-atmosphere interface, ocean-bottom sediments, ocean-land interface are considered. The sources and destruction of organic matter are considered.
Konstantin Pokazeev, Elena Sovga, Tatiana Chaplina
Chapter 2. Current Problems of the World Ocean Pollution by Microplastic
Abstract
A review of information on the causes, sources and current volumes of microplastics contamination of the World Ocean (plastic particles smaller than 5 mm) is given. It is shown that the longevity of microplastics, combined with the lack of effective recycling facilities, has made marine plastics and microplastics a global problem. The destruction processes of plastics in marine areas are described. It is shown that the main mechanism of microplastics generation is the destruction of larger plastic materials entering the marine environment. The classification of degradation processes of microplastics and conditions of its biodegradation are analyzed. Toxic effect of plastics and especially microplastics on marine environment and biota is discussed. It is shown that the problem of microplastics requires further detailed study.
Konstantin Pokazeev, Elena Sovga, Tatiana Chaplina
Chapter 3. Current Problems of the World Ocean Pollution by Oil and Oil Products
Abstract
The information on the World ocean pollution by oil and oil products is given, the dynamics of their distribution depending on the oil and oil products composition is shown. The main anthropogenic and natural sources of oil pollution in the World Ocean are described. It is shown that the areas of global oil pollution of the seas coincide with the routes of marine traffic and the estuaries of major rivers. The analysis of oil degradation processes in the marine environment, which include: evaporation, emulsification, solubility, oxidation, formation of aggregates, sedimentation and biodegradation, including microbial destruction and assimilation by plankton and benthic organisms. The dynamics of the oil slick and its impact on the characteristics of the boundary layers of the atmosphere and ocean are discussed.
Konstantin Pokazeev, Elena Sovga, Tatiana Chaplina
Chapter 4. Numerical Modeling of the Hydrocarbon Spot Shape on the Water Surface
Abstract
Prediction of oil propagation at sea is an example of operational oceanography technology and is based on the consistent application of numerical models of atmospheric and ocean dynamics, models of wind waves and ice conditions, oil spill models. Changes in the state of an oil spill in the marine environment are dependent on a variety of processes, some of which are determined by the properties of the oil and others by hydrometeorological conditions. In this chapter various foreign and domestic oil spill models for different cases are considered, their features and application examples are described.
Konstantin Pokazeev, Elena Sovga, Tatiana Chaplina
Chapter 5. Marine Ecosystems and Features of Their Functioning
Abstract
The term “marine ecosystems” is discussed. The features of the functioning of marine ecosystems and their main types in terms of depth of location and energy used are analysed. The spatial organization of energy and substance flows in the marine ecosystem is given. The reasons for different bio-productivity of the world ocean ecosystems are considered. Factors affecting the productivity of the primary trophic level of marine ecosystems are analyzed. Energy and substance transport by depth and the role of food chains in this process are considered. Biological pollution of the world’s oceans is considered in detail, the impact of biological pollution on the functioning of marine ecosystems is shown. Targeted introduction of “useful” fauna species by humans is considered.
Konstantin Pokazeev, Elena Sovga, Tatiana Chaplina
Chapter 6. General Oceanographic Characteristics of the Black Sea
Abstract
The unique features of the Black Sea hydrology are considered due to its isolation from the World Ocean and the specificity of its connection with it, a large catchment area, the presence of a pronounced vertical density stratification of waters, leading to a sharp stratification of the sea into a thin desalinated upper layer and deep salt layer. The history of the study of the Black Sea is briefly presented. Modern ideas about the peculiarities and specifics of water circulation in the sea are given. It is shown that the main reason for regional differences in climatic changes in the Black Sea from other areas of the world ocean is the two-layer hydrological structure of waters and the inland position of the sea. The history of the formation of the Black Sea basin is discussed.
Konstantin Pokazeev, Elena Sovga, Tatiana Chaplina
Chapter 7. Hydrophysical and Chemical Features of the Black Sea and Their Influence on Pollutant Transport and Transformation in the Sea
Abstract
The review of modern views on peculiarities of Black Sea circulation processes and their influence on formation of the Black Sea hydrochemical regime is given. The main causes of hydrogen sulfide zone formation in the sea are considered. The main mechanisms of hydrogen sulfide zone functioning and its long-term dynamics are analyzed. Influence of considerable volume of fresh water in the sea which 70% come from the industrial areas of Europe is discussed. Estimates of the average monthly upward and downward flows of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus compounds in the deep-sea photosynthesis zone of the Black Sea are given, obtained on the basis of averaging the data of long-term observations on vertical distribution of nitrates and phosphates, as well as calculations of rates of excretion of biogenic elements by plankton organisms. Estimates of flows of mineral forms of nitrogen in the deep sea are given, taking into account their inflow from external sources and exchange processes between layers (surface, deep and near-bottom) of water in the sea.
Konstantin Pokazeev, Elena Sovga, Tatiana Chaplina
Chapter 8. Biotic Characteristics (Flora and Fauna) of the Black Sea
Abstract
The peculiarities of distribution of flora and fauna in the Black Sea are considered taking into account its uniqueness—division into oxygen and hydrogen sulphide zones. The main representatives of the Black Sea flora and fauna are described. Special attention is paid to the description of the Black Sea marine fish species with a detailed description of the Black Sea fishing features of such fish as the Black Sea Hamsa, Sprat and horse mackerel. Current and past catches of fish are briefly presented. The prospects for improving the efficiency of the fisheries and opportunities for aquaculture development in the Black Sea are discussed.
Konstantin Pokazeev, Elena Sovga, Tatiana Chaplina
Chapter 9. Main Natural and Anthropogenic Sources of Pollution of the Black Sea, Its Shelf Zones and Small Water Reservoirs
Abstract
The data on the Black Sea pollution levels of oil products, heavy metals, Municipal solid waste, plastic, radioactive pollution of the sea are analyzed. The processes of transfer, transformation and disposal of contaminants are considered, and estimates of nutrient inputs into the sea causing eutrophication of shallow coastal waters are made.
The contribution of the Black Sea states to the Black Sea ecosystem pollution with oil products is discussed. It is shown that with relatively small volumes of emergency spills in the Black Sea, the threat of sea pollution by oil products significantly increases the construction of new oil storage facilities, as well as the discharge of oil-containing (ballast) water from ships. Estimates are given of oil product pollution in the South Coast of Crimea, Sevastopol Bay and the East Coast of the Black Sea. Information on the Black Sea Track Web (BSTW) operational system for forecasting the spread of oil spills in the Black Sea is given, and estimates of its practical implementation are made.
Using the example of the north-western shelf of the Black Sea, the level of eutrophication of shallow sea areas was assessed, and the causes and consequences of the formation of hypoxia and suffocation in the studied water area were identified.
Modern estimates of the level of pollution of beaches and the coastal zone by solid domestic waste and plastic are given. The level of microplastics pollution of beaches of Sevastopol and the East coast of the sea is analyzed.
The level of sea pollution by heavy metals is analyzed. The radioactive contamination of the sea is considered in the aspect of the assessment of the consequences for the sea of the world’s largest accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) in 1986. The nature, genesis and distribution of methane in the Black Sea as an important element of its natural ecosystem is considered.
International conventions and agreements of the Black Sea countries aimed at reducing the pollution level of the Black Sea are briefly considered.
Konstantin Pokazeev, Elena Sovga, Tatiana Chaplina
Chapter 10. Modern Methods for Assessing the Self-cleaning Capacity of Marine Ecosystems in Shallow Waters of the Black Sea: Ports, Bays, Estuaries
Abstract
The analysis of two methods for quantitative determination of self-cleaning capacity of marine ecosystems (balance and synoptic) by calculating the assimilation capacity of marine shallow water ecosystems is given, and examples of their implementation for shallow water areas of the Black Sea, which differ in both the level of anthropogenic load and hydrologic and hydrochemical and geographical characteristics, are given. The example of separate Black Sea areas demonstrates the expediency of spatial (zoning) (Dnepro-Bugsky estuary, Sevastopol Bay) and temporal (seasonality) (water area of the Odessa port) detailed assessment of the assimilation capacity of ecosystems in relation to various pollutant complexes. According to the data of long-term monitoring observations of inorganic nitrogen content in sea waters of the Sevastopol Bay, the balance method assessed the assimilation capacity of ecosystems and E-TRIX trophicity index of the eastern, central, western parts of the bay and the southern part of the bay in relation to nitrites, nitrates and ammonium as priority elements of the biogenic complex in storm and municipal runoff. The example of the central part of the Sevastopol Bay shows the assessment of the assimilation capacity of the marine ecosystem in relation to oil products, as a priority pollutant for areas of developed shipping, performed using the synoptic method. For the Sevastopol Bay, the water areas most vulnerable in terms of self-cleaning capacity and the formation of negative environmental situations flesh to catastrophic.
Konstantin Pokazeev, Elena Sovga, Tatiana Chaplina
Chapter 11. Environmental Monitoring, Its Main Types and Role to Solve Problems of Seas and Oceans Pollution
Abstract
The main tasks of environmental monitoring and the problems arising in their implementation are discussed. The main components of environmental monitoring of the World Ocean (physical, geochemical and biological) their goals and objectives are considered. The urgency of organizing effective environmental monitoring of the World Ocean in the production activities of the world’s largest companies of the fuel and energy complex on the sea shelf is shown. The Unified State Information System on the World Ocean (ESIMO), developed in Russia, is considered. The goals and objectives of global, national, regional, local, impact monitoring and their correlation are considered in detail. Information is provided on the distribution of responsibilities among Russian government authorities in implementing various levels of environmental monitoring.
Konstantin Pokazeev, Elena Sovga, Tatiana Chaplina
Chapter 12. Organize Environmental Monitoring of Specific Sea Areas Using the Example of the Black Sea
Abstract
The analysis of the structure of environmental monitoring of the Black Sea, it’s means and methods adopted in Russia is presented. The standards adopted by RoskomHydromet on the methods of analysis, schemes of marine sampling stations location, analyzed parameters, peculiarities of the State observation network formation are described. The differences in European and Russian systems of ecological monitoring of marine environment are considered. The latest achievements of satellite monitoring of the Black Sea in Russia and prospects for its development are analyzed. The possibilities of space information systems for calculation of primary production in different areas of the Black Sea are shown on specific examples. The changes that have taken place in the structure and tasks of environmental monitoring of the Black Sea, adopted in the Black Sea countries after 1992 on the example of Ukraine, are described. Implementation of the International EMBLAS project “Improvement of Environmental Monitoring in the Black Sea”, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Community (EC), is under discussion.
Konstantin Pokazeev, Elena Sovga, Tatiana Chaplina
Metadata
Title
Pollution in the Black Sea
Authors
Prof. Konstantin Pokazeev
Prof. Elena Sovga
Prof. Tatiana Chaplina
Copyright Year
2021
Electronic ISBN
978-3-030-61895-7
Print ISBN
978-3-030-61894-0
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61895-7