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1870-1910 Manufacturing/ Industrial Revolution
Second Industrial Revolution. Fertilizers and other chemicals, electricity, and public health further accelerate growth of pollution which further increases the average global temperature and thus contributes to the bleaching of the coral reef. -
Commonwealth Petroleum Search Subsidies
In 1923 it was suspected that the reef was home to a vast and expansive oil trap. Drilling began in 1959 but the Commonwealth Petroleum Search Subsidies Act of 1957 marked when it was approved for drilling. This marked the beginning of a search for alternate fuel and studies showed that the great barrier reef was home to an abundance of oil. This act was later shut down in the 90's due to the conclusion that the reef was too young to be drilling in. -
Castle Bravo
March 1st of 58' marked the first official test of the worlds first dry fuel thermonuclear hydrogen bomb. The bomb was detonated on Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands. This was the most powerful bomb ever detonated in the history of bomb tests and to this day continues to effect the environment. This test lead to the most significant accidental radioactive contamination ever caused by the United States and eventually leaked into the ocean. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd1IFjBNNVo -
The 1967 Tasmanian fires
South Australia was experiencing great droughts and the Tasmanian Fires were caused by this drought. The fire made its way over Mt. Wellington and inched towards the Western Suburbs of Australia. It was the largest loss in a given day in Australia's history. The fire lasted for five hours and killed 62 people were killed while nearly 1,400 homes and buildings were destroyed. This is the largest day fire in history for Australia. -
The Wreck of the Amoco Cadiz
A huge crude carrier bearing the flag of Liberia split into three parts and sank, releasing 219,797 tons of light crude oil and 4,000 tons of fuel oil making it the largest oil spill of its kind at that time and resulted in the largest loss of marine life ever recorded from an oil spill. -
The Kuwaiti Oil Wells
Saddam set fire to over 700 Kuwaiti oil fields while dumping 10 million barrels of oil into the Gulf. The consumption of oil by the flames was over one billion barrels for the first seven months. The fields were not extinguished for three years. Likely, three billion barrels went up in smoke; about 10% of what the world uses in a year. Temperature is going up about 0.3C PD or 0.03 degrees Celsius per year. Saddam by himself increased the temperature by 0.003 degrees Celsius. -
The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
260,000 to 750,000 barrels of crude oil was spilled in Bligh Reef. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human caused environmental disasters with both the long-term and short-term effects of the oil spill having been studied. Immediate effects included the deaths of 100,000 to as many as 250,000 seabirds, at least 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 247 Bald Eagles, and 22 Orcas. -
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Indonesian Land-Clearing
The emissions from Indonesian land-clearing are five times Australia’s total emissions. This clearing is occurring because of transmigration and/or for palm oil production destined for biodiesel. The main problem is the method of clearing by burning, which makes Indonesia the world’s third highest carbon emitter. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_v7JTyEKZc -
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Pacific Gyre Garbage Patch
This patch contains high concentrations of pelagic plastics, chemical sludge and other debris formed gradually as a result of the marine pollution gathered by oceanic currents. A boat race in 1999, claimed to have come upon an enormous stretch of floating debris. The oceanographer Curtis Ebbesmeyer, who subsequently dubbed the region the "Eastern Garbage Patch" determined that this debris is directly related to the bleaching of reefs. Video: http://oceantoday.noaa.gov/trashtalk_garbagepatch/ -
Deep water horizon (BP) oil spill
On the evening of 20 April 2010, a gas release and subsequent explosion occurred on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig working on the Macondo exploration well for oil in the Gulf of Mexico.
Eleven people died as a result of the accident and others were injured.
The fire burned for 36 hours before the rig sank, and hydrocarbons leaked into the Gulf of Mexico before the well was closed and sealed. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtfew6xyQ8g -
Fukushima nuclear Disaster
The Fukushima nuclear disaster was an energy accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in Fukushima, initiated primarily by the tsunami following the Tōhoku earthquake on 11 March 2011. Following a major earthquake, a 15-meter tsunami disabled the power supply and cooled three Fukushima reactors, causing a nuclear accident on 11 March 2011. All three cores largely melted in the first three days. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwk_53DEp44 -
Bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef
Tests were done and concluded that nearly 35% of the great barrier reef has died or is dying. This means that to date this is the worst the reef has ever been in documented history. This isn't just the great barrier reef that is suffering, global warming has effected reefs world wide and is becoming an ever increasing issue.
