The Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch

[Banefull]

I was wondering if anyone was already aware of this but out in the Northern Pacific Ocean lies an area called "The Great Pacific ocean Garbage Patch." Its an area of highly concentrated garbage mostly in the form of seawater-plastic particulate soup.

Some of the more highly concentrated parts look like this:



It is of unknown size but estimates widely vary from the size of Texas or France, to an entire continent (most of it being small plastic particles). There is also a lot of evidence that wildlife is eating the garbage in alarming amounts.

Here is also a link to a good article:
What is the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch? | MNN - Mother Nature Network

[Isard]

Yep, ocean currents tend to do that. Little bits of all kinds of stuff end up there. Raises the fun possibility of creating artificial landmasses based off refuse. Fun stuff.

[tm20]

learnt about it last semester, pretty bad. just a massive load of garbage floating around in the sea.

[Raiden]

The thing about it that's really terrible is that the plastcis tend to absorb DDT and other toxins and concentrate them. Then they break down into tiny, tiny particles and animals eat the particles, spreading the toxins into the food chain.

[Human No More]

Heard of it before... not sure what can really be done though

[Fosus]

*sadface* Yet another thing I just try not to think about.

[Tsyal Makto]

I'm...I'm...speechless. I wish I could say more but when I see this all my thoughts just become a swirl of clotted emotion.

Whatever the consequences of this are, we deserve them.

[Empty Glass]

And we will get those consequences one way or another. I have heard of this, and it seems like a really hard problem to solve. I mean, I've never driven over to the beach, walked to the end of a pier and dumped my trash off the end, but somehow I am sure that some plastic items I once used are now floating in the Pacific. How? I don't know...that's what I've got to find out.

[zongtseng]

Originally Posted by Tsyal Makto

Whatever the consequences of this are, we deserve them.

Yes, we certainly do. Of course, we will be one of the last to suffer them, if we do at all. All of the things that live in the ocean will pay them first, and they did nothing to deserve it. I dream of being near the Pacific all the time, and will likely move to the Oregon coast next year, but this kind of thing is certainly a reminder that it's not all beauty there, and that we must take action ourselves.