The Great Blue Hole is in the middle of a. Lighthouse Reef b. the Great Barrier Reef c. Tubbataha Reef
The sinkhole a. has existed for over 100,000 years b. has plenty of life even at the very bottom c. formed in a collapse caused by flooding
Over time, the sinkhole will likely a. grow even wider and deeper b. reach colder temperatures c. fill up with sand and debris
Discussion/essay questions
The Great Blue Hole is a popular destination for tourists. However, diving in it is very dangerous, and only experienced divers are allowed to explore the caves. Do you like risky adventures? Why or why not?
Transcript
The Great Blue Hole is a giant sinkhole in the ocean. It is in the middle of Lighthouse Reef, which lies along the coast of Belize. Although the reef is shallow, the sinkhole reaches over 100 metres deep, forming a dark blue circle in the middle of the water. Inside the sinkhole, there are many underwater caves. These caves have existed for over 100,000 years, but they only became submerged at the end of the most recent Ice Age, when melting glaciers flooded the area. The sinkhole formed when the weight of the water caused the ground to collapse. At the very bottom of the Blue Hole, there is so little oxygen that most creatures can’t survive. Over time, the Blue Hole will likely fill up with sand and debris.
The pH level of the oceans is a. increasing b. decreasing c. fluctuating rapidly
Ocean acidification is caused by a. plastic pollution b. fertilizer runoff c. dissolved carbon dioxide
Carbonic acid a. makes seawater poisonous to fish and whales b. makes seafood dangerous for humans to eat c. destroys the shells of clams, plankton, and coral
Discussion/essay questions
Do you think humans will be able to stop ocean acidification and climate change? What are some actions that people can take to help the environment?
Transcript
Ocean acidification is a dangerous environmental process. Over time, the pH level of the oceans is decreasing, which is likely to lead to the disruption of ecosystems and the endangerment of marine life. Like climate change, ocean acidification is caused by human activity. Excess carbon dioxide emissions disrupt the chemical balances of the Earth. While some carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere, causing a greenhouse effect, some dissolves in the ocean. Carbon dioxide molecules bond with water molecules to make carbonic acid, which can destroy the shells of marine animals like clams, coral, and plankton. The loss of these creatures would cause major consequences for underwater ecosystems, and for human life, too.
Gigantism occurs a. in warm water b. in water with high salt levels c. in deep water
Deep-sea creatures have slower metabolisms because of a. the temperature of the water b. the lack of light c. the nutrients in the food
These animals grow larger because a. they eat more food b. they have more time to mature c. they need to look like predators
Discussion/essay questions
Scientists have only explored about 5% of the oceans. What else do you think they might discover in the future?
Transcript
Sea creatures that live in the depths of the ocean can sometimes grow much bigger than similar creatures that prefer shallow waters. This is a phenomenon called deep-sea gigantism. A well-known example of deep-sea gigantism is the colossal squid, which can grow up to 14 metres long. There are several theories about the causes of deep-sea gigantism. It is believed that the colder temperatures at the bottom of the ocean can slow an animal’s metabolism. This is important for the survival of deep-sea creatures. Food can be hard to find in the cold, dark water, which means that these creatures have to conserve their energy. With such slow metabolisms, they take a long time to mature. This allows them to continue growing.
One of the strangest in the ocean is the song of a whale. There is still a lot of dispute about why whales sing. Some scientists believe that they are trying to attract mates. Others think that whale songs are a form of communication, almost like a . This is because individual whales sing with the same sound patterns as other whales in the area. They also learn different sound patterns when they whales from different areas. It’s also possible that singing helps whales to navigate. After all, it is very difficult to see underwater. Whale songs can be for humans, too. Scientists have started to use whale songs to oceans. They do this by measuring the time it takes to hear an echo. This helps them to estimate the depth of the ocean floor.
Comprehension questions
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Discussion/essay questions
Today, humans are making a lot of noise in the ocean. Shipping and underwater construction are some causes of this. This makes it harder for scientists to study the sounds that whales make. Do you think it’s possible for humans to reduce noise pollution in the ocean?
Transcript
One of the strangest sounds in the ocean is the song of a whale. There is still a lot of dispute about why whales sing. Some scientists believe that they are trying to attract mates. Others think that whale songs are a form of communication, almost like a language. This is because individual whales sing with the same sound patterns as other whales in the area. They also learn different sound patterns when they meet whales from different areas. It’s also possible that singing helps whales to navigate. After all, it is very difficult to see underwater. Whale songs can be useful for humans, too. Scientists have started to use whale songs to map oceans. They do this by measuring the time it takes to hear an echo. This helps them to estimate the depth of the ocean floor.
In 1992, a cargo ship on its way from Hong Kong to the United States lost a crate in the Pacific Ocean. That crate over 28,000 rubber ducks, most of which are still in the ocean today. At first, this was simply seen as a small financial loss. However, a few of these ducks made their way to the of Alaska, where they were found by scavengers. After this discovery, a team of oceanographers decided to track the ducks as they moved around the world. The oceanographers offered $100 rewards to anyone who found one of these ducks, so that they could make a map of the ducks’ . Rubber ducks began to appear in Japan and Australia. Some even travelled across the Arctic Ocean, ending up on the coasts of North America and Europe. The oceanographers used the they’d gathered from studying the ducks to confirm their predictions about the paths of major ocean currents. The story of the ducks was also used to raise awareness about the dangers of dumping in the ocean. Today, these rubber ducks are still being found on shores. They have even become highly valued collectibles – often being sold for up to $1000.
Comprehension questions
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Discussion/essay questions
The now-famous rubber ducks were originally found by scavengers looking for interesting items along the shore. Have you ever found anything interesting on a beach?
Transcript
In 1992, a cargo ship on its way from Hong Kong to the United States lost a crate in the Pacific Ocean. That crate contained over 28,000 rubber ducks, most of which are still in the ocean today. At first, this was simply seen as a small financial loss. However, a few of these ducks made their way to the coast of Alaska, where they were found by scavengers. After this discovery, a team of oceanographers decided to track the ducks as they moved around the world. The oceanographers offered $100 rewards to anyone who found one of these ducks, so that they could make a map of the ducks’ journey. Rubber ducks began to appear in Japan and Australia. Some even travelled across the Arctic Ocean, ending up on the coasts of North America and Europe. The oceanographers used the information they’d gathered from studying the ducks to confirm their predictions about the paths of major ocean currents. The story of the ducks was also used to raise awareness about the dangers of dumping plastic in the ocean. Today, these rubber ducks are still being found on shores. They have even become highly valued collectibles – often being sold for up to $1000.
Dolphins are sometimes kept in aquariums or zoos and taught tricks for human entertainment. This is a controversial topic because many people believe that dolphins and other animals belong in the wild. How do you feel about this?
Transcript
Dolphins are adorable, friendly, and playful creatures. They’re also some of the most intelligent animals in the world. They have very large brains compared to most animals. The dolphin is also one member of a small group of species that can recognize their reflections in a mirror. This shows that dolphins have self-awareness, which is a trait associated with intelligence. Dolphins also communicate with each other using whistles. They seem to use this type of communication to solve problems, which might mean that they have their own language. Dolphins even have individual names. Every dolphin has a “signature whistle” that it can use to introduce itself. Humans are still trying to understand dolphins, but if they really do have their own language, we may be able to communicate with them one day.
