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Originally Posted by Armin
This is pretty damned upsetting.
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Originally Posted by classicman
"The Coffee House reported in May about the North Pacific gyre becoming a dead zone for human plastic trash.
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Originally Posted by BigV
Another good writeup of why it's not "visible from space, for pete's sake! twice the size of Texas! Gimme a break" [/skeptic]
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Originally Posted by Clodfobble
Because the media has completely misrepresented what it actually is. It is in no way an "island," nor is it floating. It is basically just dirty water, a soup of tiny bits of plastic.
The question, just like with global warming, is not whether it "really" exists but what it means. Is it a long-term danger? Is there realistically anything we can do about it?
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In case anyone is interested, another
article about the central Pacific gyre by Captain Charles Moore Aboard Oceanographic Research Vessel, Alguita. Explains how this has happened, meteorologically.
Apparently they have done photography and spent time studying this...
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"As we drifted in the center of this system, doing underwater photography day and night, we began to realize what was happening. A paper plate thrown overboard just stayed with us, there was no wind or current to move it away. This is where all those things that wash down rivers to the sea end up. On October 10, during our return trip to Santa Barbara, we discovered something never before documented -- a Langmuir Windrow of plastic debris. Circular ocean currents with contrary rotation create long lines of material, visible from above as streaks on the ocean. Normally these are formed by planktonic organisms or foam, but we discovered one made of plastic. Everything from huge hawsers to tiny fragments were formed into a miles long line. "
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Interesting read...