Heartwrenching facts about the great pacific garbage patch. In the united states, as well as in much of the developed world, we rely on plastic for virtually everything. Although the great pacific garbage patch is the most well known, there are others of different. Pacific garbage patch, largest collection of ocean trash. Effects of plastic and the great pacific garbage patch. The great pacific garbage patch is an enormous gyre located in the northcentral pacific ocean. The main constituents of this garbage are plastic debris that the ocean currents collect. The area is the biggest ocean garbage patch on the planet, but its just one of five around the worlds major ocean gyres. Sunlight barred by marine debris affects more than one community. Great pacific garbage patch, zone in the pacific ocean between california and.
Like the great pacific garbage patch in the north pacific, this new, tropical patch is mostly composed of bits of microplastics, not individual plastic bags and. There are other such patches which can be found in both indian ocean and atlantic ocean. Dutch group to rid great pacific garbage patch of trash in 2018 tomonews duration. The problem of plastic and other accumulated trash affects beaches and oceans all over the world, including at both poles. The great pacific garbage patch or pacific trash vortex, is a vast collection of plastic marine debris or litter stretching from the west coast of the united states to japan. I took this photo when i met with a boat captain who collected the plastic bits with a net. Angela sun s journey of discovery to one of the most remote places on earth, midway atoll, to uncover the truth behind the mystery of the great pacific garbage patch. Great pacific garbage patch national geographic society.
The great pacific garbage patch is found within the north pacific gyre, which is one of five major ocean gyres in the world. The patch mainly contains high concentrations of pelagic plastics, chemical sludge and other debris. A grand plan to clean the great pacific garbage patch. Evidence that the great pacific garbage patch is rapidly. The great pacific garbage patch is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world and is located between hawaii and california. The great pacific garbage patch is a collection of marine debris in the north pacific ocean. Starting in hawaii, he will swim up to eight hours a. Land masses that end up in the path of the rotating gyres. The great pacific garbage patch gpgp, a site of marine debris considered to be twice the size of texas, is perhaps the foremost expression of the impact of plastic waste on our world and the. There are many garbage patches, and by that, we mean that trash congregates to various degrees in numerous parts of the pacific and the rest of the ocean. Garbage patches are areas of increased concentration of marine debris that are formed from rotating ocean currents called gyres. Three ocean basins are rife with plastics, marine organisms consume plastic instead of plankton, and toxins climb up the food chain to humans.
The pacific garbage patch is the worlds largest, though not its only, area of marine debris concentration. And about 80 percent of the debris in the great pacific garbage patch comes from landbased activities in north america and asia. Its located in the central north pacific ocean between hawaii and california and is thought to have been discovered by charles moore, an oceanographer, when sailing through the rarelyvisited area on the way back from a sailing competition. Marine debris is litter that ends up in oceans, seas, and other large bodies of water. The great pacific garbage patch has an alternative name. A garbage patch is made up of tiny plastic pieces called microplastics that are less than 5 millimeters long. In the ocean, the sun breaks down these plastics into tinier and tinier. Also, ocean features are a moving target and the borders and content of the area constantly change with ocean currents and wind. Interestingly enough, 46% of the total mass of the trash found in this region is composed of discarded fishing gear.
A study published in the journal scientific reports paints a terrifying picture of what is being dubbed as the great pacific garbage patch. Although some ocean trash is as large as a refrigerator. The great pacific garbage patch exists in the northern pacific ocean, stretching between japan and the united states. As wide and deep as the pacific ocean goes, there are still things hidden in its waters. The patch sits within the 9 million square mile north pacific subtropical gyre, an enormous swirling expanse of ocean that represents the convergence of four major currents that draw in trash from as far away as the coasts of the united states and japan. One is the western garbage patch near japan, and the other is the. Ocean cleanup of plastic pollution in the great pacific garbage patch breaks four months into its testing phase, the ocean cleanups plasticcatching device. Marine debris concentrates in various regions of the north pacific, not just in one area. The biggest one is known as the great pacific garbage patch, or the pacific trash vortex. Hows the great pacific garbage patch cleanup going. The garbage patch in the pacific is the largest known on the planet, but several others can be found in other oceans five main ones are often reported. The great pacific garbage patch, full of ocean plastic. The world produced 100 billion kilograms of plastic each year, about 10% of this plastic ends up in the ocean.
These natural gathering points appear where rotating currents, winds, and other ocean features converge to accumulate marine debris, as well as plankton, seaweed, and other sea life. When you wake up in the morning, the first thing you do is probably hit the snooze button on your plastic alarm clock. The patch is formed over an intermediate area with a lot of plastic concentration in it. Another factor is the north pacific subtropical convergence zone, north of the hawaiian islands. Scientists of the ocean cleanup foundation have conducted the most extensive analysis ever of this area.
Garbage patches are large areas of marine debris concentration that are formed by rotating ocean currents called gyres kind of like big whirlpools that suck things in. Because microplastics are smaller than a pencil eraser, they are not immediately noticeable to the naked eye. The great pacific garbage patch is one of many areas in the ocean where marine debris naturally concentrates because of ocean currents. The great pacific garbage patch is the result of natural and human forces.
The great pacific garbage patch, which is also known as the pacific trash vortex is a patch of sea debris particles formed near the central north pacific ocean. The definition of an ocean gyre, as per wikipedia, is. The pacific garbage patch covers an area half the size of usa. Another giant garbage patch found in the atlantic ocean. A vortex of rotating ocean currents called the north pacific gyre traps the debris here. Digging into the great pacific garbage patch youtube. The ocean cleanup launches to the great pacific garbage patch.
The ocean cleanup successfully launched its ocean plastic cleanup system on saturday, sept. The ocean cleanup says it could rid the gpgp of 50% of its waste in five years. The great pacific garbage patch, a collection of plastic, floating trash halfway between hawaii and california, has grown to. In fact, the ocean conservancy reported that china, indonesia, philippines, thailand, and vietnam dump more. The great pacific garbage patch, also known as the pacific trash vortex, spans waters from the west coast of north america to japan. Also known as the pacific trash vortex, the garbage patch is actually. Its more like pepper flakes swirling in a soup than something you can skim off the surface. Although the myth of the great pacific garbage patch as a floating plastic island has been busted, the remaining facts are grim. The most publicized garbage patch is the great pacific garbage patch, located in the north pacific subtropical gyre in the northern pacific ocean. Know interesting facts about the great pacific garbage patch. The great pacific garbage patch is a vast area of plastic debris located in the pacific ocean. Sunlight does eventually photodegrade the bonds in plastic polymers, reducing it to smaller and smaller pieces, but that just makes matters.
Along the way she encounters scientists, industry, legislators and activists who shed light on what our societys vast consumption of disposable. The great pacific garbage patch is a collection of marine debris in the north. According to national geographic, it is estimated that 1. The exact size, content, and location of the garbage patches are difficult to accurately. When exposed to sunlight, plastic breaks into smaller and smaller pieces. How did the great pacific garbage island get there in the first place. The great pacific garbage patch is a gigantic collection of marine debris and waste found in the middle of the north pacific ocean. In this episode, dianna parker from the noaa marine debris program explains what a garbage patch is and isnt, what we know and dont know, and what we can do about this oceansized problem. They can be very large, but since theyre made up primarily of microplastic debris, they definitely cant be seen from space. The great pacific garbage patch is in the pacific ocean between hawaii and california. Isnt it an irony that the worlds biggest garbage dump is located in the worlds biggest ocean. The great pacific garbage patch, or the pacific trash vortex, is an endless stream of garbage debris that can be found between the states of hawaii and california, and from eastern japan to west hawaii. Since the garbage patches are constantly moving and mixing with winds and ocean currents, their size continuously changes.
The atlantic patch was found by the five gyres project hiding in a remote area of the ocean between bermuda and portugals midatlantic azores islands. Ocean cleanup of plastic pollution in the great pacific. The great pacific garbage patch is the size of texas and you can see it from space. Finally, our results suggest that ocean plastic pollution within the. Sun uncovering the mystery of the great pacific garbage patch known as the plastic paradise the source of the. The great pacific garbage patch isnt visible in satellite photos, because much of the plastic floats underneath the sea surface and has been broken down into bits like the ones in this jar. Suspended sediment interferes with the penetration of sunlight and upsets the. Debunking the myths about garbage patches response. Interesting, it is not the only garbage patch that haunts our oceans. The patch is actually comprised of the western garbage patch, located near japan. Marine debris is litter that ends up in the ocean, seas, and other large bodies of water.
Plastic trash is entering the worlds oceans at a rate of as much as 12. As with the north pacific garbage patch, plastic can circulate in this part of the. In this independent documentary film, journalistfilmmaker angela sun travels on a personal journey of discovery to uncover this mysterious phenomenon. They have heard that there is an area of oceanic garbage twice the size of texas that is forming a huge floating landmass of trash. The worlds largest collection of ocean garbage is growing. How the garbage patch accumulated about 80 percent of the plastic trash that makes up the great pacific garbage patch originated from landbased activities occurring in. The great pacific garbage patch, also described as the pacific trash vortex, is a gyre of marine. Great pacific garbage patch facts that will show you the worlds. This one estimated to be a million square miles across. Ocean garbage patches noaas national ocean service.
Ocean advocate ben lecomte will swim 300 nautical miles through the great pacific garbage patch, beginning on june 8, 2019 world ocean day. New garbage patch bigger than texas found in pacific. And yet its become ground zero for the great pacific garbage patch, syphoning plastics from three distant continents. Scientists of the ocean cleanup have conducted the most extensive analysis ever of this area. Pacific garbage patch, also referred to as the pacific trash vortex or north pacific subtropical gyre is located in a remote.
It extends from the arctic ocean in the north to the southern ocean or, depending on definition, to antarctica in the south and is bounded by the continents of asia and australia in the west and the americas in the east. These dangers are compounded by the fact that plastics both leach out. They just break down over and over and over again until they become smaller and smaller from sunlight and other environmental factors like waves, big storms, those kind of things. A new extensive report shows the great pacific garbage patch, a mass of plastic and debris in the pacific ocean, is growing exponentially.
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