Researchers recently discovered another Pacific Garbage Patch. This one’s the size of Mexico. Photo: Elite Reader
Yup. Matters continue to go from bad to worse to worser when it comes to the human impact, more specifically plastic’s impact, on the world’s oceans. The latest, reports National Geographic, concerns Captain Charles Moore, the researcher who discovered the North Pacific Garbage Patch back in 1997. Not to go down in history as the scientific equivalent of a one hit wonder, Moore, who founded the non-profit Algalita Research Foundation, recently discovered a second “garbage patch.” This time in the South Pacific.
Moore estimates that the newest discovery – an area where microscopic plastic congregates and floats – is upwards of one million square miles in size. To put it in perspective, that means a chunk of the ocean the size of Mexico is teeming with plastic “confetti.” The fact that the debris is so minuscule makes it nearly impossible to clean, which is utterly depressing.
Jack Johnson and co. discovered as much when they went on an expedition to learn about ocean plastics in Smog of the Sea. The common refrains among everyone on board were twofold: 1) “I can’t believe the plastics are so small,” and 2) “I can’t believe no matter how far from land we go we continue to find plastic.” The term “smog of the sea” in this case is an attempt to set the record straight about plastic pollution in our oceans. The North Pacific Garbage Patch is a misnomer. It’s actually mostly made up of microplastic and resembles more of a smog than a floating patch.
And the problem just continues to get worse. Eight million tons of plastic are reportedly dumped into the ocean each year.
