What's upsetting you today? - Page 77

Armin · 11-28-2007, 11:21 AM

This is pretty damned upsetting.

Undertoad · 11-28-2007, 03:21 PM

I don't believe it actually exists.

Shawnee123 · 11-28-2007, 03:25 PM

Like Dry Land?[/waterworld]

classicman · 11-28-2007, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

I don't believe it actually exists.

"The Coffee House reported in May about the North Pacific gyre becoming a dead zone for human plastic trash. This is clearly taking hold on the imagination of the public judging by the number of hits received.

People are particularly interested in seeing images of this nightmare but they have proved difficult to find. The Coffee House will endeavour to contact the organisation making these research trips into the Pacific, to see if they can release any suitable photos."

Undertoad · 11-28-2007, 04:50 PM

There will be no photos.

Remember, it's continent-sized, twice the size of Texas. Doesn't show up on Google Earth because... plastic is hard to see.

glatt · 11-28-2007, 05:09 PM

Well, do a Google image search of the Sargasso sea. It's the same idea. The maps all show that it about the size of Texas, but the pictures just show a little scum and seaweed here and there in the water.

BigV · 11-28-2007, 05:09 PM

Another good writeup of why it's not "visible from space, for pete's sake! twice the size of Texas! Gimme a break" [/skeptic]

The plastic shit that can kill the critters is on the scale of a dime, say. And it is as deep as 50 or 100 feet. It's not like a mound of trash at the local landfill dense and high and dry enough to walk on. It's big. It's sparse. It's there. It's crap. And it's preventable, since the bulk of it came from land anyway.

LabRat · 11-28-2007, 05:13 PM

Should show up on sonar or ultrasound or something, shouldn't it?

Sundae · 11-28-2007, 05:22 PM

I read all the recommendations in Armin's original link.
Now I am happy because I already follow all of them.
But unhappy because if they are this basic, most people obviously don't.

classicman · 11-28-2007, 05:38 PM

Glatt - re: photo2 - That looks like a line of seaweed. I've seen lots of those off the back of boats for years.
I really don't understand why this thing that supposedly exists can't be seen. Why hasn't any number of environmental groups been able to get one stinkin image of it.

lookout123 · 11-28-2007, 05:50 PM

shhhh. it's cuz they don't want us to know that the massive size of this baby is what is really causing the waterline to rise along coastal areas. they're using global warming as an cover up for the massive danger posed by this unsolveable problem! holy crap!

Clodfobble · 11-28-2007, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicman

I really don't understand why this thing that supposedly exists can't be seen.

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.

From BigV's link: when you trawl the area with fine mesh (used for catching shrimp,) this is what you get.

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? (BigV's link says no, because trawling the whole area would by definition kill all the sea life it scoops up too.) But it's not an "island of trash." That's what we prefer to call Long Island, NY.

Aliantha · 11-28-2007, 07:15 PM

I asked Dazza about this and he said that the currents etc do cause rubbish to collect in that general area, but it's not an 'island the size of texas'.

classicman · 11-28-2007, 08:51 PM

Thanks Clod - I was leaving work and completely missed BigV's link.
Makes a lot more sense now.

Griff · 11-28-2007, 08:58 PM

So much for my relocating the polar bears to garbage island plan...

11-28-2007, 05:09 PM	#1146
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Well, do a Google image search of the Sargasso sea. It's the same idea. The maps all show that it about the size of Texas, but the pictures just show a little scum and seaweed here and there in the water. Attached Images

11-28-2007, 05:09 PM	#1147
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Another good writeup of why it's not "visible from space, for pete's sake! twice the size of Texas! Gimme a break" [/skeptic] The plastic shit that can kill the critters is on the scale of a dime, say. And it is as deep as 50 or 100 feet. It's not like a mound of trash at the local landfill dense and high and dry enough to walk on. It's big. It's sparse. It's there. It's crap. And it's preventable, since the bulk of it came from land anyway. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

11-28-2007, 05:13 PM	#1148
LabRat twatfaced two legged bumhole Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3,143	Should show up on sonar or ultrasound or something, shouldn't it? __________________ Strength does not come from how much weight you can lift, or how many miles you can run. It comes from knowing that you set a goal, and rose to the challenge. Strength comes from within.

11-28-2007, 05:22 PM	#1149
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I read all the recommendations in Armin's original link. Now I am happy because I already follow all of them. But unhappy because if they are this basic, most people obviously don't. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

11-28-2007, 05:50 PM	#1151
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	shhhh. it's cuz they don't want us to know that the massive size of this baby is what is really causing the waterline to rise along coastal areas. they're using global warming as an cover up for the massive danger posed by this unsolveable problem! holy crap! __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

11-28-2007, 11:21 AM	#1141
Armin Rapscallion Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 5	This is pretty damned upsetting.

11-28-2007, 03:21 PM	#1142
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I don't believe it actually exists.

11-28-2007, 03:25 PM	#1143
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Like Dry Land?[/waterworld]

11-28-2007, 04:50 PM	#1145
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	There will be no photos. Remember, it's continent-sized, twice the size of Texas. Doesn't show up on Google Earth because... plastic is hard to see.

11-28-2007, 05:38 PM	#1150
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Glatt - re: photo2 - That looks like a line of seaweed. I've seen lots of those off the back of boats for years. I really don't understand why this thing that supposedly exists can't be seen. Why hasn't any number of environmental groups been able to get one stinkin image of it.

11-28-2007, 07:15 PM	#1153
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	I asked Dazza about this and he said that the currents etc do cause rubbish to collect in that general area, but it's not an 'island the size of texas'. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

11-28-2007, 08:51 PM	#1154
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Thanks Clod - I was leaving work and completely missed BigV's link. Makes a lot more sense now.

11-28-2007, 08:58 PM	#1155
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	So much for my relocating the polar bears to garbage island plan... __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

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