Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The size of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an estimated 1.6 million square kilometers (3 Frances). With an estimated 1.15 to 2.41 million tons of plastic entering the ocean from rivers each year, the patch is only growing. We see in the graph below, how this is an exponential curve and it is only getting worse. Currents and wind are pushing the trash together to form this huge patch of garbage. These plastics are extremely dangerous to ocean wildlife which is killing countless animals. These plastic also break down into micro plastics. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The ecological impact of the patch
This is having a huge impact on wildlife living in this area. Many animals such as sea turtles and birds mistake the colorful micro plastics as food. Even feeding it to their chicks and hatchlings. This can lead to them dying of starvation or damaging organs. Fishes also get tangled in old nets and plastic netting which is know as ghost fishing. The patch also blocks of sunlight for algae and plankton which are essentials for the ecosystem. Without these autotroph at the bottom of the food chain, the ecosystem cannot survive. National Geographic
How does contribute to climate change?
With so much plastic in our oceans it has a huge affect on our oceans. As they breakdown into microplastics they release methane and ethylene in the atmosphere. Methane and ethylene are greenhouse gases which contributes to trapping heat within our atmosphere. This is a double edge sword with the impact of plastic on wildlife and climate change. UN Environmental Programme. All the plastic disturbs and kills wildlife which ruins a healthy ecosystem. These ecosystem help absorb carbon with the ocean absorbing 30% of carbon in the atmosphere. NOAA
What is being done?
Coastal and river clean ups are being done to help reduce the amount of trash entering the ocean. This is one method that can help reduce the amount of plastic entering the ocean, but it does not tackle the plastic already in the ocean. Another method is boats dragging nets to capture plastic and recycling it. This has a few draw back such as it does not capture the micro plastics. It also capture wildlife in the nets and the boats emit emissions adding to climate change. Ocean Clean Up
To be completely honest, I have never heard about the great pacific garbage patch. I have learned a lot from reading your post. One thing I will say is that the graph showing how the graph is only getting worse is very mind blowing.
ReplyDeleteI had not heard about the great pacific garbage patch prior to reading this blog post, I appreciate you calling attention to this buildup of plastic waste that continues to worsen in the pacific and impact the livelihoods of the wildlife around it.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of this before.. it is SO sad to think about. The photo of the bird with all of the trash inside of it really hits hard and that is just one example. Things are not being done fast enough.
ReplyDeleteThe scale of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is truly alarming and disturbing as it continues to grow at such a rapid rate. The effect on marine life is heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteWow, I have heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch before but I had no idea truly how huge it was and will continue to get. The fact that it is already the size of 3 Frances is very concerning. Are there any nations in particular that are taking responsibility or a leadership role in cleanup efforts?
ReplyDeleteI have heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and how bad it is, but I always forget to think about the wildlife that gets caught in the crossfire, thinking plastic is food or getting stuck in plastic. Truly heartbreaking! Thank you for bringing this up.
ReplyDeleteThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch, now estimated at 1.6 million square kilometers, poses a severe threat to marine wildlife and contributes to climate change by releasing greenhouse gases as plastics break down, highlighting the urgent need for effective cleanup strategies that address both existing pollution and the ongoing influx of plastic into the oceans.
ReplyDeleteMy heart breaks for the ocean and the creatures living in it. It is said that the garbage patches on top are not the whole story, there is an excessive amount that has sunk and is littering the bottom floor. It is truly unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteAs we usually discuss in class, I feel like we continue to not even imagine how bad this can get. I worry for ocean life that suffer due to one use plastics, and garbage we pay no mind in tossing aside. I hope these messages continue to spread so everyone does their part not to add to this.
ReplyDeleteWhile I had heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, I did not know very much about it. Not only is the release of greenhouse gasses as the plastic breaks down concerning, but it is devastating to know the direct affects it has on marine wildlife as well.
ReplyDeleteHey Joe, great information It’s crazy how much plastic is affecting the ocean. I’m curious, though, whether current cleanup methods will ever be enough to tackle the issue, or do we need something bigger? Also, what can we do as individuals to help reduce the plastic going into the ocean in the first place?
ReplyDeleteThe map and graph you included really blew my mind. I've heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch but I never truly understood how large it is. Lucretius problem I suppose. It is hard to comprehend just how large it is, and it is hard to imagine how unseen it is. I feel like if the patch was right near shore people could not ignore it as much.
ReplyDeleteI've been aware of the plastics cumulating in the oceans but I did not realize it was to this extent, the evidence shown in the graph is shocking. It is deeply saddening that these waste systems conveniently used by humans do not consider the significance of the oceans and its wildlife and continue to destroy it. I wonder of there are sustainable and higher-scale ocean clean up practices in possible for action.
ReplyDeleteThis is so emotional to read about. Seeing how horrible we have treated our animals on Earth. This garbage patch clearly is only going to continue growing and spreading pollution. Animals on both land and sea will be killed from this.
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