Water and the Environment

By Maya Planker

There is a near infinite number of cycles and processes that work in perfect harmony to make our world go ‘round, but perhaps the most vitally important is the delicate interaction between water and the environment. From microscopic organisms to planet-spanning biomes, everything on Earth benefits from the synchronous action between the two. 

While humans rely on this relationship, they also take an active part in abusing it. Across the globe, large patches of plastic waste accumulate from what is washed out from land and left behind by fishing and other oceanic enterprises. The largest of these patches is located between California and the Hawaiian Islands and is known as the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” According to estimates by The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization based in the Netherlands, it is twice the size of the state of Texas and contains up to 100 million kilograms (220 million pounds) of plastic. Although the debris in this patch is not always visible to the naked eye, it remains a very real problem. Having spread across the surface and the floor, it is extremely difficult to clean up, but not impossible. 

Scientists have proposed a variety of solutions to these problems, with the foremost being “interceptors” placed at the mouths of polluted rivers to prevent waste from ever even reaching the ocean. One such device is the affectionately named “Mr. Trash Wheel,” a vessel powered by hydro and solar energy that collects trash out in Baltimore’s inner harbor, collecting up to a dazzling 38,000 pounds per day. Another, “The Great Bubble Barrier,” is a machine that creates bubble streams that push microplastics and other waste to areas where they can be more easily collected. Despite the efficiency of these machines for gathering waste, they make very little impact on a global scale. According to the NOAA Marine Debris Program, our efforts should target the waste we generate, not where it goes. We can’t easily monitor every waterway, but we can certainly monitor our waste production.

Another discussion topic among scientists is the impact of global warming and climate change on our oceans. While discussion of climate change is relatively prevalent in the modern day, it is easy to forget just how intrinsically our oceans are linked to the world’s temperature. According to NASA satellite records, the rate at which our sea levels are rising has more than doubled since 1993, and in 2024, the rise exceeded predictions made by analysts. In recent years, an estimated two-thirds of the change came from ice sheet and glacier deterioration, and the remaining third was due to thermal expansion of sea water. Last year, however, the two flipped, meaning temperature-related water expansion now accounted for the majority of sea level rise. As heat is absorbed by the ocean, the water expands, increasing its surface area and causing it to absorb even more heat. That doesn’t mean it’s too late to help. Climate scientists, including those at the Earth Information Center, believe that if governments can act to cut emissions and prepare for changing coastal landscapes, we can help to save our planet.

Another profound impactor for our global safety is sea ice, or more specifically, Arctic sea ice. In June of 2025, we neared record lows in sea ice quantity. Reports from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) show that there have been unrecoverable gaps in ice quantity, particularly in the Barents and Kara seas, both of which were nearly ice-free by the end of the month. However, at the other end of the world, there has been an unprecedented growth in Antarctic sea ice. Additional data from the NSIDC reveals that in early 2024, sea ice around Antarctica reached levels not seen since the early 2000s, and in the winter, the Southern Hemisphere had seen a 10% rise in ice quantity compared to the previous five-year average. Combined, these trends demonstrate a possible global temperature shift that has transgressed our current meteorological models.

While mankind has created a great many problems for our ocean, we can adapt and keep moving. Within our communities, we should do our best in keeping our areas clean, using resources thoughtfully, and encouraging action in order to better our planet.

-Maya Planker

Exploring the delicate harmony of water and life.