Patch-zilla

I hope you found that video interesting AND encouraging. Obviously the Pacific Gyre is nothing to shrug your shoulders at, and slowly more and more people are becoming aware of what a massive problem this actually is. If you don’t know about it, or want to know more read on… or at least look at the pictures!

As you know from my previous post, the gyre is actually so big that it has split into two separate patches. According to Howstuffworks.com, the patches are connected by the Subtropical Convergence Zone, a 6,000-mile long current. Considering that this only connects the two gyres, millions of pound of trash collect in the current as well.

Let’s dig a little deeper and take a look into what the patches really consist of. As I have mentioned earlier, the patch mainly consists of plastic. A study done in 2006 by The United Nations Environment Program reported that every square mile of ocean contains 46,000 pieces of plastic. The world produces over 200 billion pounds of plastic a year, and about 10 percent of it ends up in the ocean. Also according to Howstuffworks.com, seventy percent of this plastic sinks, while the rest of it floats or washes up on shore.

According to wikipedia.org, when plastics reach the ocean, they often break down into smaller pieces, while still remaining a polymer, or a large molecule composed of repeating structural units, connected by covalent chemical bonds. This process continues until the previous solid plastic, and eventually releases toxic chemicals into the ocean such as bisphenol A, PCBs and polystyrene.


With all this said, CLICK HERE to  watch yet another wonderful video.

A Pacific Full of Plastic

I’m sure that you are wondering where all of this trash is winding up. I have mentioned the location of Punta Allen, Mexico and the battle they are waging with the trash monster. There is a lot of information still to come on that, as well as the trash war occuring at Alaska's Gore Point. But for right now, check out this video on what is commonly known as the “pacific gyre” AKA the “pacific vortex” “garbage patch” or “the floating island.”

Quick facts about this gorilla of ocean garbage:

-          Technically called the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

-          Located in the northern section of the Pacific Ocean

-          It mostly consists of plastic

-          It is the largest landfill in the world, and it is floating in the ocean

-          It has actually gotten so large that it has broken into two separate gyres:  The Western Pacific Garbage Patch, and the Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch

-          Scientists have estimated that the Eastern Patch is bigger than the size of Texas.

Without further ado, CHECK IT OUT!