Sofia Martinez
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a gyre of marine debris particles in the central North Pacific Ocean. It is a collection of plastic waste and floating trash originating from the Pacific Rim, including countries in Asia, North America, and South America. The patch is formed by swirling ocean currents, sucking in plastics and constantly shifting. It is not a solid mass of plastic but rather a widely dispersed area consisting primarily of suspended microplastics, with larger items such as fishing gear and shoes. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world, covering an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers, an area twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Between Hawaii and California |
| Size | 1.6 million square kilometers, twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France |
| Plastic Mass | 79,000 metric tons |
| Microplastic Concentration | 1.8 kg km^-2 |
| Plastic Composition | 94% microplastics, 46% fishing nets, 8% plastic packaging |
| Plastic Origins | 34% Japan, 32% China, 10% Korean Peninsula, 7% USA |
| Age of Plastics | 49% of dated plastic objects produced in the 20th century |
| Cleanup Cost | $7.5 billion |
| Cleanup Timeframe | Within a decade |
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What You'll Learn
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is not a floating island of trash
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is the largest accumulation of plastic in the open ocean. Located in the North Pacific Gyre, halfway between Hawaii and California, the GPGP is characterised by a high concentration of plastic debris, including microplastics and larger items such as fishing gear. While the term "patch" may evoke images of a solid mass of trash floating on the ocean, this is not the case. The GPGP is a dynamic accumulation zone where plastic debris is spread across the water's surface and down to the ocean floor.
The GPGP is not a stationary island of trash but rather a constantly changing area influenced by seasonal variations in winds and currents. Its location and shape are ever-shifting, and the plastic mass is distributed within the top few meters of the ocean, with larger pieces resurfacing more rapidly than smaller ones. The patch covers an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometres, twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France. However, due to the variability of winds and currents, it is challenging to determine its exact size.
The plastic debris in the GPGP comes from various sources, with a significant portion originating from fishing activities at sea. Crates, buoys, and eel traps used for fishing are commonly found in the patch. Additionally, plastic emissions from rivers contribute to the accumulation, with stronger and more buoyant plastics transported over long distances by converging currents before ending up in the patch. The GPGP's microplastic concentration is estimated to be significantly higher than in surrounding areas, posing a threat to marine life that migrates through or inhabits the area.
The idea of the GPGP as a floating island of trash is a misconception. It is more akin to a soup of plastic debris, with larger items interspersed throughout. The term "garbage patch" may have contributed to this misunderstanding, as it suggests a solid mass of trash. However, the reality is that the GPGP is a vast accumulation zone of plastic pollution, with debris of varying sizes, that poses a significant environmental threat to marine life and the ocean ecosystem.
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It is made up of microplastics and larger debris
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is the largest accumulation of plastic in the open ocean, located between Hawaii and California in the North Pacific Ocean. It is one of five offshore plastic accumulation zones in the world's oceans. The GPGP is made up of microplastics and larger debris, with a median measured microplastic concentration of 1.8 kg km^-2. Microplastics dominate the area by count, making up 94% of the estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic. However, larger objects comprise 92% of the patch's mass.
The microplastics in the GPGP are often microscopic, making the water look like a cloudy soup. These tiny pieces of plastic are difficult to remove and are often mistaken for food by marine animals, causing malnutrition and entanglement risks. As more plastics are discarded into the environment, the microplastic concentration in the GPGP will continue to increase.
The larger debris in the GPGP includes items such as fishing gear, shoes, crates, buoys, and eel traps used for fishing hagfish. Over three-quarters of the GPGP mass is carried by debris larger than 5 cm, and at least 46% is comprised of fishing nets. The plastic in the patch is often decades old, with the oldest identified item being a buoy from 1966.
The GPGP is constantly changing due to seasonal and interannual variabilities of winds and currents. Its low density prevents detection by satellite imagery, casual boaters, or divers in the area. Despite this, the patch covers an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers, an area twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France.
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The patch is located between Hawaii and California
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is located in the North Pacific Ocean, halfway between Hawaii and California. It is the largest accumulation of plastic in the open ocean, covering an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers, or 620,000 square miles. This area is twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France. The GPGP is constantly changing shape due to seasonal and interannual variabilities of winds and currents.
The GPGP was first discovered by Captain Charles Moore in 1997 and is now known as the Eastern Garbage Patch. It is one of two main areas that make up the current Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the other being the Western Garbage Patch, located near Japan. The patch is estimated to contain over 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, weighing about 80,000 metric tons. This vast accumulation of debris continues to grow, making it increasingly challenging to address.
The plastic in the GPGP comes from various sources, including river emissions, land-based sources, and offshore fishing activities. Research has found that 75% to 86% of the plastic debris in the patch originates from fishing activities, with the oldest identified item being a buoy from 1966. The accumulation of plastic in the GPGP is a result of buoyant plastics being transported by surface currents and winds, eventually entering oceanic gyres and accumulating in remote areas of the ocean.
While the GPGP is the most famous, it is not the only garbage patch in the oceans. Other patches have been discovered in the South Pacific Ocean and the North Atlantic, and more are likely to be found over time. The problem of plastic waste in the sea is a global concern, and governments, organizations, and individuals all have a role in addressing it. By adopting sustainable practices, supporting innovative solutions, and promoting international cooperation, we can work towards a future with cleaner oceans and healthier marine life.
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It was discovered by Captain Charles Moore in 1997
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also known as the Pacific Trash Vortex, is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. It spans waters from the West Coast of North America to Japan and is made up of the Western Garbage Patch near Japan and the Eastern Garbage Patch located between Hawaii and California.
Moore's 1999 study showed that there was six times more plastic, by weight, in this part of the ocean than zooplankton, which feeds ocean life. This was a shocking discovery for many oceanographers, as it indicated that plastic pollution was significantly impacting marine ecosystems.
Moore has continued his research and advocacy efforts, founding the Algalita Marine Research and Education organization in 1999 and serving as the Research Director at the Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research, which he founded in 2020. He has also worked on projects like the JUNK Raft in 2008, which aimed to creatively raise awareness about plastic pollution in the ocean by sailing across the Pacific on a raft made from plastic bottles.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is still a significant environmental concern, with plastic pollution damaging marine ecosystems and altering evolution. Scientists from The Ocean Cleanup have been working to address this issue, removing more than one million pounds of trash from the patch by the end of 2024.
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The Ocean Cleanup has removed over 1 million pounds of trash from the patch
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world. It is located between Hawaii and California in the Pacific Ocean. The GPGP covers an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers, twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France.
The Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit environmental engineering organization, is working to rid the oceans of plastic. The organization has developed advanced technologies and systems to tackle this issue. In one extraction, The Ocean Cleanup group removed a record 25,000 pounds of trash from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This was the largest amount of trash ever removed from the patch in a single extraction. The Ocean Cleanup's aim is to remove 90% of floating plastic from the oceans by 2040.
The organization utilizes a two-pronged approach, removing "legacy plastics" and debris before they break down into microplastics. One of their notable finds was a Vietnam War-era canteen, emphasizing the persistence of plastic pollution over several decades. The Ocean Cleanup's systems involve two vessels with devices that skim the water's surface to collect debris.
In addition to their work in the GPGP, The Ocean Cleanup also focuses on intercepting and cleaning rivers that feed into the oceans. They have deployed "Interceptors" in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Dominican Republic, with another in Vietnam that is not yet operational. These efforts are crucial as they prevent plastic from entering the oceans and accumulating in garbage patches.
The Ocean Cleanup's efforts have made a significant impact, and their ongoing projects demonstrate a strong commitment to tackling the issue of plastic pollution in our oceans.
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Frequently asked questions
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is located in the Pacific Ocean, halfway between Hawaii and California.
The GPGP is composed of microplastics, mesoplastics, macroplastics, and megaplastics. It is estimated to contain over 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, weighing about 80,000 metric tons.
The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization dedicated to removing plastic from the world's oceans, conducts research trips and cleanups in the GPGP. You can subscribe to their mailing list to stay updated on their progress and get involved in their initiatives.
