The ProblemThe Great Pacific garbage patch is a gyre of plastic debris in the central North Pacific Ocean. It is unknown how much area it takes up, but people who have seen it have described it as "the size of Texas." The patch is full of pelagic plastics, chemical sludge and other debris that have been trapped by the currents of the North Pacific Gyres. Because of its size, it has a low density and is not visible from satellite photography, or even to boaters and divers in the area. It consists of small or even microscopic plastic. Most of the plastic is so small it is very hard to get out. The garbage patch wasn't discovered until 1999 by a sailing racer named Charles J. Moore who was going home through the North Pacific Gyre after competing in the Transpac sailing race. He said he came across giant stretch of floating garbage. He was accused of exaggerating the size of the garbage patch.
|
Why This is HappeningPeople litter plastics and it ends up in the water ways. When the plastic reaches the shore the currents pulled it into the ocean and it swirls the plastics into one area. It's not just the people who live near the ocean that contribute to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch if you buy and discard plastic, you are responsible for some of the plastic that is in the ocean, even if you live far away from the sea. All rivers lead to the sea. Trash that ends up in the middle of the ocean and with the currents it ends up in the Garbage patch.
|