Answer the following questions: 5 POINTS Why is it important to remove Plastics that have spilled into the ocean? How will your machine remove the Plastics from the ocean? (5 points)

Answer 1

Importance of Removing Plastics from the Ocean (5 Points)

1. Environmental Protection: Plastics contribute significantly to marine pollution, threatening marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Removing plastics helps protect marine life, including fish, seabirds, and marine mammals, which can ingest or become entangled in plastic debris.

2. Human Health: Microplastics can enter the food chain, eventually reaching humans through seafood consumption. Removing plastics from the ocean helps reduce potential health risks associated with consuming contaminated marine organisms.

3. Economic Impact: The fishing and tourism industries can suffer due to pollution and the decline of marine habitats. Clean oceans support healthier fish populations and enhance tourism, benefiting local economies.

4. Climate Change Mitigation: Healthy oceans play a vital role in carbon sequestration. Plastics can harm the marine life that contributes to this process. Removing plastics can help maintain healthy ocean ecosystems that are crucial for climate regulation.

5. Aesthetic and Recreational Value: Clean oceans are essential for recreational activities such as swimming, diving, and boating. Removing plastics enhances the natural beauty of marine environments and improves the quality of life for coastal communities.

How the Machine Will Remove Plastics from the Ocean (5 Points)

1. Collecting Mechanism: The machine could utilize a net or a conveyor system designed to capture various sizes of plastic debris as it passes through the water. The design could focus on minimizing bycatch and ensuring the protection of marine life.

2. Autonomous Operation: Equipped with sensors and GPS technology, the machine can autonomously navigate ocean currents, locating and targeting areas with high concentrations of plastic waste for efficient collection.

3. Sorting and Classification: Once collected, the machine can incorporate sorting technology to classify plastics by type and size. This enables more efficient recycling processes and reduces contamination of recyclable materials.

4. Onboard Storage: The machine can feature onboard storage capabilities that allow it to hold significant quantities of collected plastics before returning to shore for disposal or recycling, ensuring continuous operation without frequent interruptions.

5. Environmental Monitoring: The machine can include tools for monitoring ocean health, such as sensors for tracking microplastic levels and water quality, providing valuable data to researchers and policymakers and informing future cleanup efforts.

By combining these features, the machine can effectively contribute to the removal and management of plastic waste in our oceans.