Transparency: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
- Posted by: GOOD , Jacob Magraw-Mickelson
- on May 12, 2009 at 8:00 am
By now, most of us are aware that there is a large patch of floating plastic in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. What you may not know is that it’s not made up of plastic bags and empty bottles. It’s made up of billions of tiny pieces of plastic, and it’s basically invisible unless you’re floating in it. While this might seem better, it’s actually much worse for the environment—and for you. Our latest Transparency is a look at the Pacific Gyre and the plastic floating in it.
Gyre illustration by Jacob Magraw-Mickelson
DISCUSSION: 24 Comments
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Can we create a filter to insert into the middle of the fure to catch the tiny floaters? We put them in the water, and now we need to get them out.
What can be done to clean this up?
Some organizations have tried taking ships out there to get some of the plastic to recycle it, but dragged nets have the issue of killing a lot of the wildlife that we’re trying to save. Most scientists seem to agree that there is no overall solution to the problem except mitigation. We need to stop more plastic from going into the ocean. The plastic that is already there, we might just be stuck with until a more innovative solution or new technology comes around.
Does anyone know when this was first discovered?
This is wonderful. VBS did a nice video on the patch, which is worth checking out if your looking for additional info.
Agreed. I just watched the video. For all those interested here’s the link to VBS’ Garbage Island
I’ve been looking for something like this…AWESOME! THANKS! Not everyone knows about this…most of the people where I live go HUH? when I tell them… kathy dee
http://earth911.com/blog/2008/06/10/teen-finds-faster-way-to-breakdown-plastic/
this article is great..can i blog this?
people need to stop leaving trash behind and try to make smarter choices. Dont expect the government to do anything anytime soon they like to wait until its to late.
Anyone have any aerial pictures of this implied massive blob of buoyant waste floating somewhere in the vicinity of Hawaii? Lots of commercial flights in that area.
well the truth is that humans are pigs and we need to stop creating so much damn garbage!but i know that won’t happen anytime soon because people are too busy with their own lives to stop and realize their impact on the earth.
This is a great (but very frightening) image. Well done. Good.
One of the earliest publication on the issue of microplastics in the ocean is from 1972Carpenter, EJ; Smith., KL. 1972. Plastics on the Sargasso Sea surface. Science 175: 1240-1241.ABSTRACT Plastic particles, in concentrations averaging 3500 pieces and 290 grams per square kilometer, are widespread in the western Sargasso Sea. Pieces are brittle, apparently due to the weathering of the plasticizers, and many are in a pellet shape about 0.25 to 0.5 centimeters in diameter. the particles are surfaces for the attachment of diatoms and hydroids. Increasing production of plastics, combined with present waste-disposal practices, will undoubtedly lead to increases in the concentrations of these particles. Plastics could be a source of some of the polychlorinated biphenyls recently observed in oceanic organisms.
it was mentioned that the plastic absorbed or attracted toxic chemicals….if this process is efficient then we could develope special filters and potentially have this problem work for us by helping clean out the more harmful toxins…just a thought.
wow!thats just sad .we r ruenig our enviorment!
Check out the blog/website http://www.greenlandoceanblue.com. They are group of Emmy award winning individuals in the film and creative industry that have formed a non profit to focus on environmental issues. They are doing a film called Plastic Pacific as their current project that focuses on the Pacific Garbage Patch. They are currently looking for sponsors for this venture – so get involved to help bring awareness to this cause! It is time to get involved to help bring solutions!
Where are the sources for this information?
Captain Moore of Algalita is credited with ‘discovering’ the great pacific garbage patch. More information on Algalita’s research is here: http://www.algalita.org/Information on how to rise above plastics: http://www.riseaboveplastics.org/
Captain Moore of Algalita is credited with ‘discovering’ the great
pacific garbage patch. More information on Algalita’s research is here:
http://www.algalita.org/
wow, what a gorgeous infographic! Who did this?
Great visual, but sources please for all this info? I find it frustrating when all these “facts” are thrown around without citing any legitimate sources… Even the so-called research organizations are throwing out a lot of info about this issue without referencing most of their sources, even if it comes from their own research (what research, what specific study?).
What we need to focus on now is prevention rather than worrying about cleaning it up. It would take a large effort to clean it, and while it might be done one day, we can start to make a difference today by reducing our use of plastic and reusing what we cannot reduce.If you’re interested in this topic, we were out in the gyre for 3 weeks documenting it. Find articles, photos, and video here:http://www.DiveIntoYourImagination.com/news/the-garbage-patch