GS3 · 10 marks · 150 words

Examine the environmental impacts of oil spills on marine and coastal ecosystems. What are the various methods used for cleaning-up of oil spills?

Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2023–2025

PollutionBiodiversity and ConservationEnvironmental Governance

Syllabus: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

How toppers approached it

From all 5 answers · about 170 words.

Opening

  • A definition80%
  • A date or context20%

Body

  • Points100%

Close

  • A source40%
  • A way forward40%
  • A summary20%

The toppers’ answers

Raghav JhunjhunwalaAIR 4 · CSE 2025 · 169 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a recent event

Recent oil spill near Kerala coast led to massive envt repercussions.

Impact on marine & coastal system:

Body · points

  1. Coral Bleaching due to pollution.
  2. mangrove die back due to uptake of oil
  3. Eutrophication of lakes & dead zones.
  4. loss of sunlight and disastrous impact on ecosystem productivity.
  5. Halting of Air Exchange at interface of ocean & atmosphere
  6. severe harm to coastal community livelihood (in short & long term)
  7. spread of pollution to distant zones via currents.

methods to clean up oil spills

(1) oil zapper bacteria : developed by (TERI) (2) Direct sucking of oil from pumps and motors. (3) crude oil binding agents being sprayed to negate impacts of oil pollution. (4) Burning and incineration of oil (combustion) if layer is thick enough.

GLOBAL efforts:

  1. IMO (Intl. maritime org)
    • strict directives like MARPOL & SOLAS conventions.

Close · a way forward

Thus, oil spills have disastrous impacts on ecosystem and more technological R&D must be undertaken with strict liability based on Polluter pays Principle.

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