I close my eyes and relish in the beauty of this moment. The air is plush with the tangy scent of the monstrosity before me. My skin is speckled with cold mist. It is jumping out at me, crawling down my skin, and leaving saline trails in its wake. I feel small. Tiny. Minuscule. I am nothing in this moment, but I feel everything. It roars at me and attacks the land on which I stand.
The ocean covers 71 percent of Earth's surface and contains 97 percent of the water found on Earth. That's a pretty big deal. In this huge mass of water, there are over 2.2 million species, many of which are still unknown to humans. In fact, the deep-sea dweller famous for its début in "Finding Nemo," the Anglerfish (Melanocetus), has only just recently been documented on (non-animated) film off the coast of California. This fish out of a child's imagination is only the beginning of a world of discovery within the ocean. Not only are the depths of our ocean fascinating, but scientists have reason to believe that Saturn's moon Enceladus also holds an ocean. Through the analysis of particles on Saturn's outermost ring and the observations of powerful geysers on this moon, many believe that Saturn's sixth largest moon could very well be a viable place to look for signs of extraterrestrial life. In fact, some scientists have gone as far as to speculate of the existence of hydrothermal vents on this lively satellite. Hydrothermal vents are fissures on the ocean floor that release hot and nutrient-rich water. On Earth, organisms who live near hydrothermal vents do not survive with cellular respiration or photosynthesis. Instead, they perform a process called chemosynthesis which uses hydrogen-sulfide found in the hydrothermal vents to create energy. This ocean on Enceladus is not the only speculated non-Earthly ocean. We have a universe of potentially thriving oceans awaiting us, and we haven't even learned the secrets of our own yet!
Not only is the ocean scientifically awe-inspiring, but it is fascinating to see the attraction that humans have to it. An inherent fear of the unknown creates a hesitant attraction in humans. People love the ocean. From long walks on the beach to stormy nights on fishing boats, we are drawn to the power of the ocean. We use the sound of crashing waves to fall asleep, and gently rock cribs to mimic the motion of boats to soothe upset children. Our love for the ocean is a constant, like the pattern of the tides created by the moon.
Before we can uncover all the mysteries of our ocean, we must realize that, although it has an aura of strength and magnificence, it is quite fragile. Just like in any ecosystem, one slight change in its balance could hold a dismal end to its wild nature. This brings us to the quintessential "inconvenient truth." We humans are destroying one of the greatest gifts of our existence. The Pacific Garbage Vortex is a manmade garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean that is estimated to be from 270,000 square miles to possibly 5,800,000 square miles. A wasteland larger than Texas is quickly taking over our beautiful ocean and harming all who rely on it, including humans.
