Each colored circle represents a garbage patch and its size. It is estimated that almost all of the marine pollution. The terrifying true story of the garbage that could kill the whole human race. The great pacific garbage patch, also known as the pacific trash vortex, spans waters from the west coast of north america to japan. What you may not know is that its not made up of plastic bags and. The patch mostly c here are the basic facts about the great pacific garbage patch, or the pacific trash vortex, is an endless stream of garbage debris that can be found betwen. Our efforts in battling the growth of the great pacific garbage patch are possible through our bracelets. The system has been developed over five years of research and development by boyan slat and his team at the ocean cleanup, and intends to gather massive amounts of plastic in the great pacific garbage patch. Great pacific garbage patch has increased 100fold since the 1970s the vast swirl of plastic waste floating in the north pacific has grown 100fold over the last 40 years, according to a. The great pacific garbage patch is the double the size of texas.
How the garbage patch accumulated about 80 percent of the plastic trash that makes up the great pacific garbage patch originated from landbased activities occurring in north america and asia. A new analysis reveals the region contains as much as sixteen times more plastic than previously estimated, with pollution levels increasing exponentially. Great pacific garbage patch, clean ocean, oceans of the world, create awareness, global warming, mother earth, true stories, the hamptons, cool photos rubbish in the ocean, color dust, save the whales, greater good, marine biology, sea birds, save the planet, cartography, feeling great. Great pacific garbage patch by alice yeung infographic. Somewhere in the middle of the pacific ocean, at a spot where there is almost no wind, lies a new continent. May 09, 2012 great pacific garbage patch has increased 100fold since the 1970s the vast swirl of plastic waste floating in the north pacific has grown 100fold over the last 40 years, according to a. Infographic the great pacific garbage patch by numbers.
A sampling of plastic from the great pacific garbage patch. Ocean cleanup foundation reporter covering climate change, energy and the environment. Jun 22, 2014 the great pacific garbage patch is nowadays the worlds biggest communal garbage dump, as it consists of over 4 million tons of trash scattered over an area roughly the size of the continental us. The ocean cleanup fights million of tonnes of plastic. By 20, microplastics had become universally widespread marine pollutants. Eyeopening infographic reveals the extent of plastic. Ocean pollutionplastic pollutionmajor oceansgreat pacific garbage patchmarine debrissave our oceansscience fair. Oct 05, 2016 the great pacific garbage patch has been billed as a floating island of plastic debris, stretching out across an area of ocean the size of india, a testament to mans abuse of the planet. No doubt youve heard of the great pacific garbage patch, the gargantuan accumulation of ocean debris that has grown from an estimated 3 million tons in the early 1990s to twice the size of texas in 2018. Discarded fishing gear ghost nets floats in the great pacific garbage patch. Great pacific garbage patch presskit the ocean cleanup.
When trash gets stuck in the great pacific garbage patch, it stays there forever. Marine life is dying at an alarming rate after being assaulted by plastic in the oceans. Weve created an infographic in order to help you visualise just how big the great pacific garbage patch is. This convergence zone is where warm water from the south pacific meets up with cooler water from the arctic. Though there are now several garbage patches in the oceans, the gpgp is still the largest. The great pacific garbage patch floating in the north pacific is the result of ocean currents called gyres.
These infographics, one by 5w infographics on visual. Infographic visualizing the plastic problem in our. Through the gyre great pacific garbage patch, infographic. It is a large patch of garbage floating and sinking in the middle of the pa. Plastic trash and particles are now found in most marine and terrestrial habitats, including the deep sea, great lakes, coral reefs, beaches, rivers. As the infographic below reveals, plastic pollution first became a known issue in 1997, when charles moore reported the great pacific garbage patch gpgp. Great pacific garbage patch, clean ocean, oceans of the world, create awareness, global warming, mother earth, true stories, the hamptons, cool photos. The great pacific garbage patch exists in the northern pacific ocean, stretching between japan and the united states. The collection of plastic and floating trash originates from the pacific rim, including countries in asia, north america, and south america. Groups for inspiration and financial assistance options for photographers. The exact size, content, and location of the garbage patches are difficult to accurately.
The great pacific garbage patch was discovered in 1997. As one of the closest countries to the great pacific garbage patch, the usa produces 730 tonnes of waste per capita, recycling less than a quarter of their total waste making them the 15th least oecd country to recycle waste. The great pacific garbage patch outofclass exercises the great pacific garbage patch imagine you are planning to draw an infographic that models the pacific ocean as a square with 3centimeter sides, and the great pacific garbage patch as a square within that square. Toxicological threats of plastic trashfree waters us epa. A new continent is discovered on earth in the pacific ocean.
By now, most of us are aware that there is a large patch of floating plastic in the middle of the pacific ocean. The zone acts like a highway that moves debris from one patch to another. The great pacific garbage patch is a whirlpool of marine debris, mostly tiny pieces of plastic, in the central north pacific ocean. These gyres are circling currents that can trap particles floating in them and push them. There are four other circulating ocean currents gyres around the world that also collect plastic garbage and could be treated using the same method. Open infographic by now, most of us are aware that there is a large patch of floating plastic in the middle of the pacific ocean. It lies within north pacific gyre and does not go anywhere, as it is confined by its currents. Floating trash collector targets great pacific garbage patch by ninian carter september 8, 2018 the ocean cleanup, an ecologically minded tech startup, plans to gather up and recycle millions of tonnes of plastic floating in the pacific ocean. Learn about our plastic problem and how you can lessen its impact on the planet. The patch is not densely packed, so you cant walk on it or spot it from a boat, and its impossible to spot from satellite photos, as much of. It is located halfway between hawaii and california. These plastics are harming marine life and can the great pacific garbage patch infographic on vimeo.
Plastic do not biodegrade, the sun breaks these down into smaller and smaller pieces through photodegradation, which is why it is so difficult to judge the size of the patches, since these. Check out some of the noaa marine debris programs infographics. Plastic do not biodegrade, the sun breaks these down into smaller and smaller pieces through photodegradation, which is why it is so difficult to judge the size of the patches, since these pieces are not visible from satellites or planes. Trash in the great pacific garbage patch has quadrupled. The great pacific garbage patch is a collection of marine debris in the north pacific ocean. These are the main conclusions of a threeyear mapping effort conducted by an international team of scientists affiliated with the.
Great pacific garbage patch infographic about garbage in the ocean. And perhaps even more worrying is the great pacific garbage patch. If successful, a fleet of 60 systems is expected to clean up 50% of the great pacific garbage patch every five years. This infographic produced by the unep in 2009 shows the recycling rates of oecd countries between 1999 and 2006. Pacific garbage patch infographic click on the image for the full resolution version. The great pacific garbage patch in an area of marine debris, laying approximately 5. The entire great pacific garbage patch is bounded by the north pacific subtropical gyre.
This infographic really puts the great pacific garbage patch into perspective. Great pacific garbage patch has increased 100fold since. You may have seen images and heard about the great pacific garbage patch, a massive swirl of plastic pieces off the coast of hawaii. Scientists find another pacific garbage patch great. The great pacific garbage patch, also described as the pacific trash vortex, is a gyre of marine debris particles in the northcentral pacific ocean. Statista offers daily infographics about trending topics, covering. Their first objective will be for the system to establish itself within the great pacific garbage patch and collect vast amounts of plastic. What does the graphic tell the reader about the great pacific garbage patch. Its no secret that the worlds ocean trash problem is getting bad. The great pacific garbage patch may now be as big as the continental united states. While great pacific garbage patch is a term often used by the media, it does not paint an accurate picture of the marine debris problem in the north pacific ocean. This coming may, the ocean cleanup is ready to deploy their first fully operational ocean cleanup system in the great pacific ocean.
Marine debris is litter that ends up in oceans, seas, and other large bodies of water. It would take 67 ships and one year to clean up less than 1% of the north pacific ocean. Plastic within the great pacific garbage patch is increasing. The extent of the patch has been compared to the u. In 1997, charles moore first reported the great pacific garbage patch gpgp by 2009, plastics could be found on seabeds throughout the oceans. The great pacific garbage patch is located in the pacific ocean. The great pacific garbage patch is nowadays the worlds biggest communal garbage dump, as it consists of over 4 million tons of trash scattered over an area roughly the size of the continental us. Created by second graders at an expeditionary learning school. These are useful tools for visualizing information related to marine debris. Apr 09, 2020 while great pacific garbage patch is a term often used by the media, it does not paint an accurate picture of the marine debris problem in the north pacific ocean. Mar 22, 2018 a sampling of plastic from the great pacific garbage patch. Great pacific garbage patch is a myth, warn experts, as. Although plastics in the remote gyre accumulation areas of the oceans like the pacific garbage patch garner the most media attention, they are not the only water bodies polluted by plastics. Jun 26, 2018 there are 3 huge garbage islands in the world.
Great pacific garbage patch, a zone in the pacific ocean between hawaii and california that has a high concentration of plastic waste. Although it shifts every year and exact position is hard to tell. The great pacific garbage patch has been billed as a floating island of plastic debris, stretching out across an area of ocean the size of. Great pacific garbage patch has increased 100fold since the. The great pacific garbage patch in an area of marine debris, laying approximately 5 to 155 west and 35 to 42 north. The great pacific garbage patch gpgp is the largest of the five offshore plastic accumulation zones in the worlds oceans. Great pacific garbage patch national geographic society.
The size of the great pacific garbage patch is currently more. Great pacific garbage patch is bigger and mostly made of. On saturday researchers from the ocean cleanup foundation will set out to round up plastics in the great pacific garbage patch. See more ideas about infographic, energy technology and great pacific garbage patch. Marine debris concentrates in various regions of the north pacific, not just in one area. The plastic in the patch comes from both land and marine sources, as well as from the 2011 tohoku tsunami that hit japan. Sep 11, 2018 on saturday researchers from the ocean cleanup foundation will set out to round up plastics in the great pacific garbage patch. Estimated to be twice the size of our country, this continent is a huge swirling mass of plastic waste. The great pacific garbage,these infographics, one by 5w infographics on visual. The great pacific garbage patch is an accumulation of microplastics in the east and west ends of the pacific ocean.
The patch is actually comprised of the western garbage patch. It lies between hawaii and california and is often described as larger than texas. Infographic the great pacific garbage patch by numbers plastic ethics. Actually not so great but really huge and constantly growing. The great pacific garbage patch infographic on vimeo. Infographic of plastics and marine life marine debris, great pacific. Look at the infographic on the second page of the article. The patch mostly consists of pelagic plastics, formed from plastic b.
An infographic posted on may 20, 2019 june 15, 2019 by salman zafar in just over 30 years, scientists predict there will be more pounds of plastic in the ocean than there will be pounds of fish. The patch is actually comprised of the western garbage patch, located near japan, and the eastern garbage patch, located between the u. The great pacific garbage patch is much larger than the other garbage patches. The great pacific garbage patch is the worlds largest collection of floating trashand the most famous. The plastic that makes up the great pacific garbage patch floats and. It is located roughly from 5w to 155w and 35n to 42n. Cleaning up the pacific garbage patch graphic news. The whole of the uk, the great barrier reef and the entirety of madagascar illustrated by circles on the infographic can all fit comfortably inside of it, as can the grand canyon national park, the canadian rockies, hawaii, and.
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