Fishermen work amidst floating garbage in Manila Bay. Photograph: Erik de Castro/ Reuters Associated Press in San Francisco Sunday 17.16 EDT Last modified on Sunday 17.50 EDT Scientists and volunteers who have spent the last month gathering data on how much plastic garbage is floating in the Pacific Ocean returned to San Francisco on Sunday and said most of the trash they found is in medium to large-sized pieces, as opposed to tiny ones. Volunteer crews on 30 boats have been measuring the size and mapping the location of tons of plastic waste floating between the west coast and Hawaii that according to some estimates covers an area twice the size of Texas. Related: Full scale of plastic in the world's oceans revealed for first time “ It was a good illustration of why it is such an urgent thing to clean up, because if we don’t clean it up soon, then we’ll give the big plastic time to break into smaller and smaller pieces,” said Boyan Slat, who has developed a technology he says could start removing the garbage by 2020. A 171ft mother ship carrying fishing nets, buckets, buoys and bottles, among other items, and two sailing boats with volunteers who helped collect the garbage samples arrived at San Francisco’s Piers 30-32. The boats went on a 30-day voyage as part of the “ Mega Expedition”, a major step in an effort to clean up what is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The expedition was sponsored by the Ocean Cleanup, an organisation founded by Slat, a 21-year-old innovator from the Netherlands. Slat said the group would publish a report of its findings by mid-2016 and after that hoped to test out a one-mile barrier to collect garbage near Japan. The ultimate goal is the construction of a 60 mile (96.5km) barrier in the middle of the Pacific. Related: Ocean plastic is likely disappearing into the food chain, new study indicates Slat.
As the pioneer in the study of plastic pollution, Algalita was the first to spearhead the research methodology for collecting and analyzing micro/macroplastic samples from the ocean. Since Captain Moore’s 1997 discovery of the “plastic soup” in the North Pacific Gyre, we’ve continued collecting samples through multiple expeditions in the North Pacific and around the world. In 2016, we plan to publish a 15-year retrospective study evaluating the long-term trends and changes we’ve observed in the Gyre. Algalita believes that sound science should drive policy and direct improved product design. As we move forward, our in-depth research will continue to influence positive change and solutions on a global level. ALGALITA EXPEDITIONS Algalita’s research vessel is the the ORV Alguita, a 50-foot, 25-ton aluminum hulled sailing catamaran. Our research team utlizes this versatile, modern research vessel to collect ocean water samples from the North Pacific Gyre. COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS Ongoing and past projects in collaboration with other environmental research organizations. ALGALITA PAPERS e.g., by state; within source by type; e.g., science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc. Click on the standard groupings to explore this hierarchy as it applies to this document. Learning Objectives After this lesson, students should be able to: Explain in a general sense what the Great Pacific Garbage Patch ( GPGP) is. Describe how the GPGP is formed. Explain their relationship to the GPGP and their potential for shared fault. Understand how consumption of goods can result in environmental degradation. Describe how plastics are created and explain why it is that some plastics are so resistant to degradation in the ocean. Name two or three major environmental impacts of the GPGP and brainstorm solutions to solve related problems. Explain how environmental engineers could apply knowledge to try to solve this problem. Introduction/ Motivation The Rise of Plastics June 12, 1958, was the date that the Disneyland opened its House of the Future built by Monsanto (show students Figure 2 and the online video in the Additional Multimedia Support section). It was a free attraction that featured the most modern conveniences such as dishwashers, in-home intercoms, microwaves, televisions and especially all the uses of plastic. With closets full of polyester clothes, plastic furniture and the main structure of eight pre-fabricated white plastic sections, it showed what the modern home of the future would look like. By 1967, when the exhibit.
Menu Main menu About Us Discover the Issue Current Efforts Educational Materials In Your Region Multimedia You are here Home › Discover the Issue › Movement › Great Pacific Garbage Patch Resources - Links What We Know About Garbage Patches Poster VIDEO: What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? Resources - Downloads High Res Photo - Garbage Patch Illustration The name “ Pacific Garbage Patch” has led many to believe that this area is a large and continuous patch of easily visible marine debris items such as bottles and other litter —akin to a literal island of trash that should be visible with satellite or aerial photographs. While higher concentrations of litter items can be found in this area, along with other debris such as derelict fishing nets, much of the debris is actually small pieces of floating plastic that are not immediately evident to the naked eye. The debris is continuously mixed by wind and wave action and widely dispersed both over huge surface areas and throughout the top portion of the water column. It is possible to sail through the “garbage patch” area and see very little or no debris on the water’s surface. It is also difficult to estimate the size of these “patches,” because the borders and content constantly change with ocean currents and winds. Regardless of the exact size, mass, and location of the “garbage patch,” manmade debris does not belong in our oceans and waterways and must be addressed. Listen to National Ocean Service's Making Waves podcast on Garbage Patches In this episode, the NOAA Marine Debris Program explains what a garbage patch is and isn't, what we know and don't know, and what we can do about this ocean-sized problem. On Our Radar Monitoring Debris Calif. Economic Study TRASH TALK VIDEO Marine Debris Tracker Revised: Apr 28, 2016 1:36pm | Site map | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | User Survey Web site owner: Marine.
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