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 ocean sized problem. Learn why cleanup proposals and more recycling are not. Debunking the myths about garbage patches response. Mar 22, 2018 the garbage patch is not exactly a patch after its discovery in the late 90s, the great pacific garbage patch took on an image in the popular imagination akin to an island or even a. The great pacific garbage patch was the myth we needed to. Oceanographers and ecologists recently discovered that about 70% of marine debris actually sinks to the. In recent years, there has been a lot of misinformation spread about garbage patches and so now, we are here to try to clear up some of these myths.
Pacific garbage patch, also referred to as the pacific trash vortex or north pacific subtropical gyre is located in a remote. The great pacific garbage patch is the worlds largest collection of floating trash and the most. For noaa, a national science agency, separating science from science fiction about the pacific garbage patch. But the great pacific garbage patch has always been less substantial than it sounds, less an island in the ocean than a big idea that floats around inside our heads. Scientists of the ocean cleanup foundation have conducted the most extensive analysis ever of this area. The great pacific garbage patch, also described as the pacific trash vortex, is a gyre of marine.
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. There are a few myths surrounding the great pacific garbage patch. Well, garbage patches are areas of increased concentration of marine debris that are formed from rotating ocean currents called gyres and although they may not be as famous as the great pacific garbage patch, there are actually several garbage patches around the world. About 54 percent of the debris in the great pacific garbage patch comes from landbased activities in north america and asia. The first recorded sighting of the great pacific garbage patch was by oceanographer charles j. Feb 10, 2015 even though 80% of trash starts on land, tons of it ends up in the ocean, swirling around in a massive patch of plastic debris. One is the western garbage patch near japan, and the other is the. The great pacific garbage patch was the myth we needed to save. Mar 25, 2018 theres an 80,000ton monster lurking in the pacific ocean between hawaii and california and its still getting bigger. North pacific, south pacific, north atlantic, south atlantic, and indian. Trash and plastics are collected and trapped by ocean currents in 5 major areas. Moore heir to oil wealth, now an environmental activist when sailing home after a race in 1999. The name conjures images of a floating landfill in the middle of the ocean, with miles of bobbing plastic bottles and rogue. This is truly easier said than done as we know that it doesnt consists of things like plastic bottles or trash bags that one could simply clean up.
The garbage patch was discovered by charles moore in 1997. Marine debris is litter that ends up in oceans, seas, and other large bodies of water. But from now on, i can sum it all up in one simple phrase. The name conjures images of a floating landfill in the middle of the ocean, with miles of bobbing plastic bottles and rogue yogurt cups. Although the myth of the great pacific garbage patch as a floating plastic island has been busted, the remaining facts are grim. Oct 03, 2018 the great pacific garbage patch is a gigantic collection of marine debris and waste found in the middle of the north pacific ocean. It is located roughly from 5w to 155w and 35n to 42n.
Jun 27, 2019 its try, try again for the ocean cleanup, an ambitious project designed to remove plastic from the great pacific garbage patch. This was an environmentalist scare that became a bit of a trend from the late 1990s through the mid2000s. Because microplastics are smaller than a pencil eraser, they are not immediately noticeable to the naked eye. The number appeared to come from a 2008 quote from marcus eriksen, the.
Its a region of the north pacific ocean where the northern jet stream and the southern trade winds, moving. Jul 30, 2015 the claim that the great pacific garbage patch covers 8. Of equal importance is examining some of the myths that perpetuate about the plastics in the ocean in regards to the great pacific garbage patch. The pacific garbage patch is the worlds largest, though not its only, area of marine debris concentration. The great pacific garbage patch is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world and is located between hawaii and california. Sep 12, 2016 but the great pacific garbage patch has always been less substantial than it sounds, less an island in the ocean than a big idea that floats around inside our heads. Great pacific garbage patch is bigger and mostly made of. Ocean cleanups can solve the garbage patch problem. The garbage philosophy behind the great pacific garbage patch. The main constituents of this garbage are plastic debris that the ocean currents collect.
The great pacific garbage patch elicits thoughts of water so packed with plastic that boats cant pass though, or an island made of trash. Great pacific garbage patch is a myth, warn experts, as. Great pacific garbage patch facts 1 when was the great pacific garbage patch discovered. The fact is, much of the rubbish found in the great pacific garbage patch sits below the surface of the water, hidden from view. Nov 06, 2018 to conclude, it is important to touch upon the last of the myths, a question which is raised often times. Oct 11, 2018 greenpeace usa debunks popular myths about the great pacific garbage patch during the arctic sunrise ships expedition in october of 2018. He is a yachtsman and sailed into an island of marine debris made of plastic and other trash. The noaa marine debris program takes down two other myths about the garbage patches.
The great pacific garbage patch and the beach cleanup myth. This week method introduced a new soap bottle made out of ocean. The great pacific garbage patch is ballooning, 87,000 tons. Great pacific garbage patch national geographic society. Debunking the 5 myths of plastic pollution slo active. The great pacific garbage patch, also described as the pacific trash vortex, is a gyre of marine debris particles in the northcentral pacific ocean. Cleaning up the myths around the great pacific garbage patch. Its not all bottles and strawsthe patch is mostly abandoned fishing gear. The great pacific garbage patch has been billed as a floating island of plastic debris, stretching out across an area of ocean the size of india. Arguably more frightening than any shark, the great pacific garbage patch is. The great pacific garbage patch is in the pacific ocean between hawaii and california. Oct 05, 2016 the great pacific garbage patch has been billed as a floating island of plastic debris, stretching out across an area of ocean the size of india, a testament to mans abuse of the planet. May 22, 2015 the massive plastic trash gyre isnt an island, its the disaster of capital circling the globe on ocean currents. It was discovered by captain charles moore in 1997 while sailing from hawaii to california.
One aspect that is lightly mentioned in my novels, and would make a good follow up short story if i ever have time the trip to the pacific garbage patch. Myths and the great pacific garbage patch soapboxie. Its about 20 million square kilometersthe same size as the north pacific subtropical gyre, home of the. While some areas of the patch have more trash than others, much of the debris is made of microplastics by count. Dec 21, 20 although the myth of the great pacific garbage patch as a floating plastic island has been busted, the remaining facts are grim.
The name though was given by curtis ebbesmeyer, a seattle oceanographer. Moore heir to oil wealth, now an environmental activist when. Youve probably heard of the pacific garbage patch, also called the trash vortex. The great pacific garbage patch isnt what you think it is national. The noaa marine debris programs carey morishige takes down two myths floating. Great pacific garbage patch is a myth, warn experts, as survey. The great pacific garbage patch is a gigantic collection of marine debris and waste found in the middle of the north pacific ocean. Ignore the photos that you think show the great pacific garbage patch. Isnt it an irony that the worlds biggest garbage dump is located in the worlds biggest ocean. Because microplastics are smaller than a pencil eraser, they are not.
The great pacific garbage patch is the worlds largest collection of floating trashand the most. Lies youve been told about the pacific garbage patch. 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. Greenpeace usa debunks popular myths about the great pacific garbage patch during the arctic sunrise ships expedition in october of 2018. They exist all throughout the ocean, and the pacific garbage patch just happens to be the most famous. You are probably already aware of the mass of garbage in the pacific ocean, commonly known as the great pacific garbage patch or trash vortex or trash gyre or some combination thereof. Heartwrenching facts about the great pacific garbage patch. 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. The great pacific garbage patch, also known as the pacific trash vortex, spans waters from the west coast of north america to japan. Three ocean basins are rife with plastics, marine organisms consume plastic instead of plankton, and toxins climb up the food chain to humans. In discussing the great pacific garbage patch it is important to have a background of where it is, what it contains, how it accumulates and what it affects. However, there are actually several garbage patches located in gyres around the world. Its about 20 million square kilometers the same size as the north pacific subtropical gyre, home of the.
The great pacific garbage patch, full of ocean plastic, keeps. The great pacific garbage patch has been billed as a floating island of plastic debris, stretching out across an area of ocean the size of india, a testament to mans abuse of the planet. Top 5 myths of the great pacific garbage patch youtube. 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. The most publicized garbage patch is the great pacific garbage patch, located in the north pacific subtropical gyre in the northern pacific ocean. Check out answers to other frequently asked garbage patch questions. The garbage patch or any oceanic garbage patch for that matter is an area of increased concentration of marine debris. The great pacific garbage patch is a collection of marine debris in the north pacific ocean. The seafloor beneath the great pacific garbage patch may also be an underwater trash heap. The great pacific garbage patch is the size of texas and you can see it from space. So lets address some of the most common questions and. Why dont we just clean up the great pacific garbage patch.
423 1299 844 1255 1138 856 311 774 653 566 408 1033 1028 368 280 30 277 166 725 679 305 1333 1142 769 163 1453 1469 750 792 450 1121 1028 824 640 1481 755