The Impact Of Oil Spills Biology Essay

The Impact Of Oil Spills Biology Essay An oil spill can be defined as the accidental release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the surroundings or the environment due to human activity. An oil spill is a form of pollution that has devastating effects on the environment. The term oil spill is sometimes used to refer to marine oil spills where there is a release of oil into the ocean, coastal waters or any other water body. On the land the oil spills are usually restricted and their impact can be eliminated quite easily compared to marine oil spills. The main cause of marine oil spills is associated with the oil transportation by tankers and oil pipes which makes up of about 70 percent of all the oil spills. The remaining percent of oil spills comes from offshore drilling, wells and spills of refined petroleum products such as petrol and diesel and also their by products. The occurrence of large and catastrophic spills that can release up to 30,000 tons of oil or even more is relatively rare. The frequency of such events in recent times had gone down perceptibly. But this took a different turn when we experienced the worse and largest oil spill ever recorded in history, the deep water horizon oil spill also known as the Gulf of Mexico oil spill or the BP oil spill. Though some oil spills may not be as extensive or worse like the BP oil spill they still possess the capability to cause serious ecological risks to sea birds and mammals. The result is the long term environmental disturbances that occur in coastal zones. Oil spills also have an impact on the economic activities of the people that depend on the sea for a livelihood. Public outcry over oil spills has led to the coming up of impressive technical, political and also legal experiences in managing oil spills. Causes There are various factors that can lead to oil spills which range from accidents, carelessness to deliberate dumping. Tanker accidents are one of the popular causes of oil spills. Tankers can sometimes crash or run into un- expected land causing a crack or hole that allows oil to escape. They are highly publicized by the media and they release large volumes of oil into the oceans. Globally only a small percentage of oil spills occur as a result of tanker accidents such as explosions, hull failure, running aground or even collisions. Tanker accidents result in oil spills that are very harmful because of the large volumes of oil released at once. This poses a serious threat to the lives of marine animals and also sea birds. The spillage of oil due to a loading or unloading problem is another category of tanker accidents. This kind of spillage is the most frequent of the oil spills. Statistics show that between 1974 and 1998 there were 3,000 such accidents. However in comparison to acci dents caused by collisions or groundings, their destruction is relatively minor. Another cause of oil spills that is very common is known as runoff from the land. Engines that are land based e.g. car engines function on petroleum fuel and also petroleum based lubricants. The engines slowly release these substances leading to their accumulation on roads and in the ground. These minor everyday spills and leaks of oil from automobiles end up poisoning the soil. The motor oil can also find its way down through storm drains into sewers which drain into rivers and eventually out into the sea. Natural seepage is another cause of oil spills especially in the oceans. When the earthà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s tectonic plates move sometimes they release oil from the reserves trapped deep within the ocean floor. Human activities in the ocean such as drilling can also accelerate natural seepage. Natural seepage rarely happens on land and when it does ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s not much of a concern. The reason why natural seepage is disastrous to the ocean is because of the fact that oil is less dense than water, thus when released by the undersea tectonic disturbances it will always float leading to major oil spills. Oil extraction is another cause of oil spill. As oil is extracted from underground reserves it is often spilled in land and also in the sea depending on where it is been extracted from. To test a newly tapped oil well, the oil is allowed to flow out forming a geyser of oil spewing into the sky and all of that oil is allowed to spill. Accidents also do occur regularly in the oil extraction wells resulting in spillage (Stille 7) Oil shipping trucks and pipelines are another cause for oil spills. Pipelines that transport oil underground can develop cracks and leaks over a period of time which allows oil to flow into the environment. These leaks can be as a result of natural catastrophes such as hurricanes and earthquakes. They can also result from poor maintenance resulting in structural failure or from deliberate vandalism and attacks. Tanks or oil shipping trucks can be involved in road accidents thereby instigating an oil spill. Majority of this causes are as a result of human error or carelessness which fall under controlled factors. Oil spills may also occur due to machinery breakdowns, illegal dumping of oil and also intentional spillages. Effects Oil spills can have an impact on the environment, the economy, health and also the society as a whole. These effects can be long lasting and hard to get away with. Many oil spills have been documented in the scientific and technical literature though not all of the effects of oil pollution are completely understood and documented, an indication of the possible scale duration of damage can usually be found in the information available. However it can also be difficult to present a balanced view of the realities of oil spills given the fact that they are highly charged. Also the emotional nature of a spill and its aftermath can bring difficulties. Oil spills result in both immediate and long term damage to the environment. Some of the damages that oil spills cause on the environment can last for decades after the spill occurs. There are various notable effects caused by oil spills on the environment. Harsh effects that oil has on the coastline or shoreline are the highly visible parts of an oil spill. Unless a concerted effort to clean up the shoreline is made the oil basically stays on the shore until the weather and time breaks it down a process that is extremely slow. The gooey mass that makes up an oil slick will litter the shoreline with an ugly black tar making it very dangerous since the shoreline is where much marine life is concentrated. Shorelines provide nurseries for fish and marine life, by contaminating the shoreline the oil possess a threat and are dangerous to the marine life in the area (walker 20). Marine mammals such as dolphins, seals, whales and sea otters are killed by oil spills. The damage done to these animals can take different forms. The blow holes of whales of dolphins and whales are sometimes blocked by the oil making it hard for these animals to breathe properly and also to communicate effectively. Oil also coats the fur of otters and seals leaving them vulnerable to hypothermia. If the animals are able to escape these immediate effects the oil spill causes damage to their food supply by contaminating it. When the animals eat fish that has been poisoned by the oil spill they die or experience other problems. Oil spills take a deadly blow on the fish, shellfish and any other marine life. Sea birds are largely affected by oil spills and are seen as among some of the most vulnerable animals of open seas. Any oil spill in the ocean offers a death sentence to the sea birds. Some may relocate if they sense danger on time. However birds that dive into the waters for their food or gather on the sea surface are faced with the danger of being covered with oil. Most of the sea birds die from drowning, starvation and also from loss of body heat due to the destruction of the birdà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s feathers by oil. Some birds also die after ingesting oil during attempts to clean themselves. Oil spills leave long term damage to animal species, their habitats, nesting and breeding grounds that these animals need for their survival. This is one of the most far devastating environmental effects of oil spills. Though some species spend their lives at sea such as turtles they always come ashore to lay their eggs. Oil can harm these creatures if they encounter it either on the beaches where they nest or at sea. The eggs will be destroyed by the oil and fail to develop properly. Oil spill will have an effect on the economy in a negative way. The impact can range from loosing oil through the cost of cleaning and also the cost incurred due to lost productivity in certain industries due to the damage of shorelines and beaches. Direct economic costs brought about by oil spills can include the actual loss of oil from the spill. These direct costs will be small if the spill is small. In the case of a larger spill the costs will be much higher. The damage to the wildlife brought about by the oil spill will bring about costs incurred while cleaning the birds. The cost in lost fisheries will be another cost brought about by oil spills. Oil spills destroy beaches leading to a loss in tourism in areas where beaches and nearby oceans cannot be accessed. This leads to lower tourist revenues. Cleaning an oil spill is an expensive job and will take a heavy economic toll on the company spilling the oil and also its insurers (Nardo 33). During an oil spill the clean up the workers come into contact with chemicals that are hazardous to human health. Research has shown an increase in respiratory symptoms, headaches, eye irritation and skin problems among the clean up workers. Mental studies done to people exposed to oil spills reveal that these individuals are likely to suffer from anxiety, post traumatic stress and also depression. Studies reveal an increase in DNA damage in people exposed to oil spills. Other potential long term risks to human health as a result of oil spills include lung, kidney and liver damage. The society will also suffer from an oil spill in that they will be loss of jobs due to the destruction of various industries by the oil spill. This leads to many families going without food and also some people may be mentally affected by the sudden loss of job. Due to the health issues that arise due to oil spills, families may find themselves with sick people to cater for which they had not expected (Al azraki). Solutions Solutions are needed on ways in which we can deal with the devastating effects of oil spills. As we have seen oil spills do much damage to the environment, Human health and also the economy. Some of the ways to deal with an oil spill include skimming which happens to be a popular method. It involves cleaning oil spills by skimming the oil from the water using skimming equipment with fine filtering instruments. The oil spill will first be contained using booms, after which the oil that has collected into a slick is skimmed from the surface. Another method that offers solution to the problem is natural degradation. If oil does not pose a threat to the shoreline or the marine life the best way to deal with the spill is to allow the oil to break on its own. The use of dispersants is another method that can offer solutions. These are chemicals (dispersants) that break down the tension that keeps water and oil separated. The oil will collect in smaller droplets and sink allowing greater na tural breakdown. Another method that can be of help is to release biological agents into the water to help bring about breakdown. These agents include nitrogen and phosphorous which promote bacteria in the water helping the oil to disperse and breakdown naturally. Measures taken Oil spill prevention can pose a challenge, but there are measures that can be adopted that can either prevent oil spills from happening altogether or they can provide a degree of damage control. These will require preparedness and also continuous improvement in each and every phase of operation where oil is produced, transported, stored or even marketed. Oil exploration and production facilities should adopt advanced technologies, materials and also practices. They should also ensure that they have multi backup systems for support in case of anything. Oil pipelines will employ computers, electromagnetic tools and also ultrasonic devices that will help in detecting weak spots on the pipe so that they can be repaired before a leak develops. Compared to years before marine vessels and terminals are being designed differently compared, tankers now are being built with double hulls. The storage tanks are being constructed with special materials so as to avoid corrosion. These prevention m easures are not only in the oil industry but consumers also play an important role in ensuring that oils and other fuels are out of the environment. They are expected to observe proper handling methods and disposal practices (zdrazil) Conclusion In conclusion we know that oil plays a vital role in our lives which means that life as we know it would be hard without oil. Despite this oil spills have devastating effects on our environment, health and also economy leading to many of us calling for an alternative source of energy that can replace oil. Before a replacement for oil is discovered, human beings will have to continue to enjoy the benefits offered by oil and also suffer from the effects of oil such oil spills.

Computer Operating System Essay

The Windows series of operating systems produced by the Microsoft Corporation primarily make use of two file systems: the File Allocation Table (FAT) and the New Technology File System (NTFS). Additionally, some versions of Windows NT also support the use of the High Performance File System (HPFS), a result of Microsoft’s joint developer involvement with IBM to produce the OS/2 operating system. (Duncan, 1989; Custer, 1994) Initially released with DOS, FAT makes use of a table which indexes information on which sections of the storage medium are free, unusable or taken up by files. Disk space is partitioned into distinct units known as sectors or clusters. There is no real organization to the directory structure of FAT, and as such free disk space can become distributed across many different sectors, resulting in file space being allocated in discontiguous sectors. As such, data is highly fragmented and increases seek times. (Microsoft, 2007; Duncan 1989) HPFS was first introduced with OS/2. It improved over the core functionality of the FAT system by introducing additional room for metadata attributes. Allocation units were changed from clusters to physical sectors of 512 bytes each, optimizing the disk space used for each file. HPFS directory entries also hold more attribute data: they possess single sector FNODEs that serve as the control structure for each directory. Fragmentation is drastically reduced by allocating as much of a file in contiguous sectors. However, the HPFS is dependent on a Super Block which contains the control structures of the root directory – essentially the root FNODE. The Super Block is thus vulnerable to corruption or loss from a bad sector which can compromise an entire partition’s useability. (Microsoft, 2007; Duncan, 1989) NTFS was designed to meet the growing demand for network servers and file sharing capabilities and it borrowed many of its concepts from the HPFS. (Kozierok, 2001) It is a journaling file system which permits greater recoverability by reverting files back to a useable state in the event of power failures and system crashes that occur during file transactions. Additionally, it also makes use of an expanded meta-data system which allows administrators to set a wider variety of access and use controls to files. The NTFS also optimizes data by storing small files into the Master File Table of the NTFS itself. The larger system format limit provides means that allocation units are much more refined as well. (Microsoft, 2004; 2007) Memory management on Windows has an access limit of up to 4GB of physical memory, and as such, the allocation of memory to processes is limited by this cap. By using paging to transfer pages of data between main memory and an auxiliary storage device such as a hard drive, it can overcome some of the limitations of physical RAM and enable system processes to have their own 4GB logical address space. Additionally, Windows accords memory protection to process in such a manner as to prevent access to one another, which is crucial to ensure that processes can operate simultaneously without compromising their functionality. (Garg, 2008) Microsoft Windows is essentially an operating system that is built with multi-tasking in mind, which in effect, allows multiple programs to be executed simultaneously. Each application is composed of one or more processes, each of which provides the resources needed to execute a program. Processes are composed of threads, a discrete unit by which processor time is allocated and a single thread, called the primary thread initiates the process. Each thread may execute any portion of code in the process, including those already being executed by another thread. Virtual address space and system resources are shared by threads of a single process, though exception handlers, scheduling priority and other components that determine a thread’s importance and role within the context of a process. (Microsoft Developer Network, 2008) Windows possesses many of the essential features crucial to basic security such as authentication and access control, encryption schemes and protection profiles. However, the API for cryptography is easily compromised by the fact that it easily trusts multiple keys in certifying authority of access. As such, only one code key is necessary to render a system vulnerable. Such a compromise is possible either through accidental disclosure of the private key or when the certifying authority mistakenly issues a certificate. On the level of network security protocol, Windows makes use of IPSec, a cryptographic IP-level protection system which is an open standard in the industry, which functions not only through data encryption and verification of hosts but by detecting modifications made to data during network transit. (Quardt, 2004) Windows security is at its most problematic with regards to applications and non-operating system products. Part of the problem is that for the purposes of consumer convenience, Microsoft Windows continues to be reliant on legacy applications that contain security threats that were of trivial matter during their initial release. Furthermore, the signature architecture of Microsoft programs is to mix application code and data, such as ActiveX for example, can allow untrusted data from outside the system to activate code. (Quardt, 2004) Also, Windows approves digitally signed code even if it is supplied from outside of the system, which means that a system administrator must implicitly trust whoever has signed the code to have subjected it to appropriate code review. In essence, the problem with Windows security is that trust and certification is so decentralized as to deny systems administrators total control and authority over the trustworthiness of code.   REFERENCES Microsoft Corporation. (2007, May 7) Overview of FAT, HPFS and NTFS File Systems. Retrieved August 9, 2008 from: http://support. microsoft. com/kb/100108 Microsoft Corporation (2004, May 5) Local File Systems for Windows. Retrieved August 9, 2008: http://download. microsoft. com/download/5/b/5/5b5bec17-ea71-4653-9539-204a672f11cf/LocFileSys. doc Duncan, R. (1989, September) Design goals and implementation of the new High Performance File System. Microsoft Systems Journal, 4, 5, 1-13. Custer, H. (1994) Inside the Windows NT File System. Washington: Microsoft Press. Kozierok, C. M. (2001, April 17). Overview and History of NTFS. PCGuide. Garg, P. â€Å"Windows Memory Management. † Intellectual Heaven. Retrieved August 10, 2008 from: http://www. intellectualheaven. com/Articles/WinMM. pdf Microsoft Developer Network (2008, August 7). â€Å"About Processes and Threads. † Retrieved August 10, 2008 from: http://msdn. microsoft. com/en-us/library/ms681917(VS. 85,printer). aspx Hart, J. M. (2004) Windows System Programming, 3rd Edition. Boston: Addison-Wesley Professional. Quandt, S. (2004, May 25) â€Å"Linux and Windows security compared. † Linux. com Retrieved August 11, 2008 from: http://www. linux. com/articles/36273? page=2

Analysis Of Joseph Conrad s The Heart Of Darkness

Ally Jones Professor Smith English 1302 November 18, 2014 Female Roles in Joseph Conrad s the Heart of Darkness: In regards to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, many literature reviews focus on the motifs of Imperialism, the symbolism of darkness and fog, or the aspect of racism in Conrad’s work. During the era which Conrad wrote, England was going through the Victorian Era, which was marked by a shift in views on morality. The term â€Å"Victorian morality† is used today to describe values which adopt a social code of conduct in a restrictive way, such as views on sexual restraint and a low tolerance of crime (Sanders, 2). The Victorian era saw social issues such as child labor and prostitution become issues which influenced societal views on the roles of women in British society (Sanders, 10). These social norms shaped men’s views on women in general, giving rise to the underlining perceptions of female purity and the role of women as homemakers. This essay will examine the role that societal views on women in the 19th century had on Conrad’s portrayal of w omen by the analysis of four sets of minor characters in his book, Marlow’s aunt, the two women knitting outside of the office, â€Å"The Intended† (Kurtz’ fiancà ©), and Kurtz’ mistress. Social exclusion became a popular topic among academics debating such topics as poverty and unemployment. Social exclusion of women is the lack of social integration and power (Young, 1159). In Conrad’s work, he perpetuates the idea thatShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Joseph Conrad s Heart Of Darkness1504 Words   |  7 Pagescontrol over others and can be found in both people and objects. In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness the main character and narrator Marlow identifies a force within ivory that conveys a sense power within the enigmatic Mr. Kurtz. The African ivory trade was flourishing in the early 1900’s. Obtaining the precious object transformed some into greedy connoisseurs with endless intentions to get their hands on all of the continents ivory. Conrad shows that the power that is emitted from the ivory falls intoRead MoreAnalysis Of Joseph Conrad s Heart Of Darkness 1713 Words   |  7 PagesMonth: January 2014 Name: Faris Khan Period: 3 Title: Heart of Darkness Author: Joseph Conrad Date started/date completed: 1/19 - 1/28 Pages read: 96/96 (Including the ten page introduction, 106/96) Rating of book (1-10): 9/10 Above you rated this book. Explain in detail why you gave this book that score: Author Joseph Conrad uses a very interesting method of narration in his novel, Heart of Darkness. The novel itself is written in first person, from the perspective of an unnamed sailor aboardRead MoreAnalysis Of Joseph Conrad s Heart Of Darkness 1396 Words   |  6 PagesShelly Pyakurel Ellen Stockstill English 4 DC 27 April 2015 Research Paper Heart of Darkness is a novel by Joseph Conrad that centers on Marlow, a man who goes to the Congo for a job opportunity. He meets a man named Kurtz, who is well known by many. Once he gets to the Congo, he sees colonialism first-hand. He sees that the natives of the country were practically enslaved and forced to work under very harsh conditions. The two major characters of the novel are Marlow and Kurtz. There are many minorRead MoreAnalysis Of Joseph Conrad s Heart Of Darkness1552 Words   |  7 Pagesfollowers. Historically, people have been socialized to accept and adhere to these stereotypes. Women have an important role in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Women are used in this novella reflect an important aspect of culture: sexism. Heart of Darkness was originally published in 1898, a period where women were facing especially harsh discrimination. Conrad’s Heart of Darkness tells the story of Marlow, an experienced sea captain, who is setting out on a mission to rescue Kurtz, an intelligent butRead MoreAnalysis Of Joseph Conrad s Heart Of Darkness1555 Words   |  7 PagesAlthough the author Joseph Conrad never met the German philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who died more than a century before Conrad’s birth, their distinct philosophies still have numerous points of intersection, suggesting some fundamental truths within the structure of the human reality. Through the novella, Heart of Darkness, Conrad details his perspectives on the faults of man and reality as a whole, with views often coinciding with many of Leibniz’s own, as found in his numerous philosophicalRead MoreAnalysis Of Joseph Conrad s Heart Of Darkness1233 Words   |  5 PagesImperialism has often been described as a light, a method to guide the uncivilized. However in Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad sheds true light on the subjec t. In the novel, Conrad exposes the situation in Congo during the era of Imperialism for the Europeans. Conrad reveals the exploitation of the natives through a tale of Marlow, an introspective sailor, and his nightmarish journey up the Congo River to meet a reputable European trader, Kurtz. As the life of the great Kurtz comes to a close, theRead MoreAnalysis Of Joseph Conrad s Heart Of Darkness1250 Words   |  5 Pages Written in 1902, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness follows the character Marlow in his journey up the Congo River to find the mysterious Kurtz, an ivory trader. In the story, Conrad explores the issues of colonialism and imperialism. The Company has enslaved native Congolese to help them mine for ivory and rubber in the area. The Congolese experience brutal working conditions as the company profits off their free labor. Racism is evident throughout the story with Marlow calling the blacks â€Å"savages†Read MoreAnalysis Of Joseph Conrad s Heart Of Da rkness963 Words   |  4 Pagespeople. Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, can be criticised through many different lenses. Though Natives are a large part of Conrad’s narrative of European atrocities in the Congo, his treatment of Congolese Natives throughout the book show them to be nothing more than props. Conrad skews Natives language, culture and intelligence to fit Europeans schema for Africa and Africans. Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is placed in a colonized Congo. ...despite Heart of Darkness s (Joseph Conrad) obviousRead MoreAnalysis Of Joseph Conrad s Heart Of Darkness1080 Words   |  5 Pages1 Kathrine Carrasquillo Dr. David Mulry Engl 2112 Feb 13, 2017 Who is Mr. Kurtz, and what does Conrad use him for? Mr. Kurtz is the main character in Joseph Conrad s English novella, Heart of Darkness. There is no proof that Mr. Kurtz is based on a real person, so it is assumed that he is a made up character. When Mr. Kurtz is first introduced the audience learns that he is a Belgian ivory trader and he was sent to Africa by his employer for work. At first glance, Mr. Kurtz just represents a normalRead MoreAnalysis Of Joseph Conrad s Heart Of Darkness 2026 Words   |  9 Pages Ryan Li 7/22/17 AP Lit/Comp Summer Reading Heart of Darkness Heart of Darkness is written by Joseph Conrad and published in 1899. It is a novella written in the early modernism literary period. Joseph Conrad was born as Jà ³zef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski on December three 1857 in Berdichev, Ukraine to Polish parents. He was raised and educated in Poland. After his career is the seafarer in the French and British merchant Marines, he wrote short stories which he used his experiences