Currently, the Black Sea is an important part of the Atlantic Ocean and covers an area of 420,325 km 2 . It is inhabited by more than three thousand species of representatives 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 not more than 150 m. Further, dropping below this mark, up to the very bottom you can observe a complete absence of life forms with a rare exception in the form of anaerobic bacteria. This is because the deep water layers are a saturated solution of hydrogen sulfide. This is a disastrous environment for all creatures that need oxygen for normal functioning.
Black Sea: environmental issues
Like any other modern
body of water, this sea is subject to the negative impact of the
anthropogenic factor. Every year, hundreds of tons of harmful substances are dumped into its pool. Such organic pollutants can be safely attributed to all organic and mineral fertilizers, which generously fertilize the soil to obtain a better crop. It is they, getting into the sea and accumulating in the water column that provoke the active reproduction of phytoplankton. When they die, such living organisms consume oxygen contained in the water masses, and thereby create certain problems. The Black Sea is covered with a whole layer of dead algae, which is becoming more and more every year. Under the influence of this factor, oxygen deficiency is observed in the bottom regions.
The environmental problems of the Black Sea are also determined by the following negative factors:
1. Pollution of rivers flowing into it, sewage rainwater. This entails not only a decrease in water transparency and flowering 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 often found in the western part of the water area, where there are many ports and a large number of tanker shipments. As a result, the death of many representatives of flora and fauna, the violation of their normal life, as well as the deterioration of the atmosphere due to the evaporation of oil and its derivatives are observed.
3. Pollution of water masses by human vital 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 places for fish spawning and breeding of various species of animals and birds are also located there. Another significant factor is the active development of the coastline. As a result, the bottom surface of the Black Sea shelf is contaminated with cement dust and residues of chemicals used in construction.
4. The negative factors may also include the mass capture of fish, which entails the inevitable and global restructuring of marine ecosystems.
These are the main environmental problems of the Black Sea.