Great Pacific Garbage Patch now three times the size of France

[Lady Quagga]

Great Pacific Garbage Patch now three times the size of France
By Marian Liu, CNN
Updated 2:10 PM ET, Fri March 23, 2018

(CNN) - A huge, swirling pile of trash in the Pacific Ocean is growing faster than expected and is now three times the size of France.

According to a three-year study published in Scientific Reports Friday, the mass known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is about 1.6 million square kilometers in size -- up to 16 times bigger than previous estimates. That makes it more than double the size of Texas.

Ghost nets, or discarded fishing nets, make up almost half the 80,000 metric tons of garbage floating at sea, and researchers believe that around 20% of the total volume of trash is debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami.

The study -- conducted by an international team of scientists with The Ocean Cleanup Foundation, six universities and an aerial sensor company -- utilized two aircraft surveys and 30 vessels to cross the debris field.

Along with nets to survey and collect trash, researchers used two six-meter-wide devices to measure medium to large-sized objects. An aircraft was also fitted with advanced sensors to collect 3D scans of the ocean garbage. They ended up collecting a total of 1.2 million plastic samples and scanned more than 300 square kilometers of ocean surface.

The bulk of the pile is made up of larger objects while only 8% of the mass is microplastics, or pieces smaller than 5 millimeters in size.

"We were surprised by the amount of large plastic objects we encountered," Chief Scientist Julia Reisser said in a statement.

"We used to think most of the debris consists of small fragments, but this new analysis shines a new light on the scope of the debris.

'The Trash Isles'

The patch is so big that last fall environmentalists called on the United Nations to declare the Great Pacific Garbage Patch a country, called "The Trash Isles," complete with its own passport and currency, called debris.

They even solicited 200,000 people to become citizens, including celebrities Sir David Attenborough, Chris Hemsworth and Gal Gadot. Their first citizen was "former US vice president and environmentalist Al Gore.

Research scientist Britta Denise Hardesty, who wasn't involved in this study, said while discarded nets may make up almost half of the findings, the problem may be more nuanced.

Hardesty was part of an earlier study published in Marine Policy in October that also found that discarded fishing gear make up a significant amount of global marine plastic pollution. It's estimated 640,000 tons of fishing gear is lost to the marine environment each year.

"lt's not fair to just blame it on the fishermen or the top 20 countries for mismanaging waste," said Hardesty, principal research scientist for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia. "Instead we need to look at the true value and cost of plastics, and factor in the costs of livelihood and tourism."

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch was first discovered in 1997 by oceanographer Charles Moore when he sailed home to Southern California after finishing the Transpacific Yacht Race, from California to Hawaii.

"I was confronted, as far as the eye could see, with the sight of plastic," wrote Moore about his discovery in Natural History.

"In the week it took to cross the subtropical high, no matter what time of day I looked, plastic debris was floating everywhere: bottles, bottle caps, wrappers, fragments."

As for slowing down the onslaught of ocean garbage, Hardesty says we all can help.

"Plastic pollution in the ocean is visible and trackable," said Hardesty. "We can definitely make a difference in how we vote with our pocketbook and think about each decision we make, whether we take our own bags to the supermarkets, refuse straws, bring our own coffee cups, accept single-use items or think about mindful alternatives."

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/23/world/plastic-great-pacific-garbage-patch-intl/index.html

[Brent]

I saw this too and it's getting bigger quick. We have to do something to slow this and get that crap removed. I saw a clip of a kid in Europe I believe that made a device that can scoop up incredible amounts of garbage. I just don't know how it would fare in the open ocean with 30-40' waves. I have to believe that if they can drag the oceans clean of fish, then someone should be able to make a ship that can scoop that trash up.

[augnmike]

False alarm, turns out the giant swirling pile of trash in the Pacific Ocean is California

[Brent]

False alarm, turns out the giant swirling pile of trash in the Pacific Ocean is California

Nice troll, but you're choice of lures sucks.

[DarkShadow]

False alarm, turns out the giant swirling pile of trash in the Pacific Ocean is California

And what state do you preside in?

I'm assuming one of the other 49, right?

Because as many have done here, if you do live in California, you can move to South Carolina after telling California, "Enough is enough!"

[bmachale]

It is mostly trash from Asia. I lived there for three years. I can tell you from experience they are responsible for 98% of the plastic washed out to sea. Good luck getting them to change. They sign treaties that they laugh at and are already breaking before the ink dries. Do all you want here. Wont make a dent in that collection. It only makes the do gooder liberals pat themselves on the back.

Maybe instead of spending money on studies they use all that money the environmentalists give to politicians and use it to fund a clean up.

On the bright side. It is a giant kelp paddy. I bet there is more life around that thing than any other open ocean area. If you clean it up you are just destroying the ecosystem that developed around the pile of trash like they do when they blow up old oil rigs teaming with life. Killing all the fish. Hundreds of thousands of them To make it safe for fish?

Oh the contradictions of actions.

Why does the problem always come from Asia?

[Natural Lefty]

I think that the damage which humans are doing to their environment is ultimately going to be the biggest issue which we must face. We need to get our act together, globally.

bmachale seems to have something against Asians. If you look at which nations are most responsible for global warming, the U.S. is at the top of the list. I am not sure about pollution, but the same actions that lead to global warming generally lead to pollution too.

[augnmike]

Actually I've lived in CA since 1960 and it's gone to hell in a hand basket. I can't move yet since I am the caregiver for parents who won't leave their home. I'm not complaining they raised me now it's my turn but this state will continue to severely decline into a third world nation and sadly it's past the point of one return.

[Lady Quagga]

Actually I've lived in CA since 1960 and it's gone to hell in a hand basket. I can't move yet since I am the caregiver for parents who won't leave their home. I'm not complaining they raised me now it's my turn but this state will continue to severely decline into a third world nation and sadly it's past the point of one return.


http://image.ibb.co/n9k9FS/crybaby.jpg

[etucker1959]

Actually I've lived in CA since 1960 and it's gone to hell in a hand basket. I can't move yet since I am the caregiver for parents who won't leave their home. I'm not complaining they raised me now it's my turn but this state will continue to severely decline into a third world nation and sadly it's past the point of one return.

California has gone to "Hell in a hand basket." Oh do tell what you think is so wrong with California. Can 40 million people be that wrong??? Your parents like my parents probably moved to California from another state in the 1950's or 60's. Do you think "that didn't maybe" tell you something about living in some Mid Westerner state???

[Lady Quagga]

It is mostly trash from Asia. I lived there for three years. I can tell you from experience they are responsible for 98% of the plastic washed out to sea. Good luck getting them to change. They sign treaties that they laugh at and are already breaking before the ink dries. Do all you want here. Wont make a dent in that collection.

The study estimated half of it comes from fishing nets (i.e. commercial fishing) and 20% from the Tōhoku tsunami. As to where the remaining 30% comes from I will leave to the scientists, FNN experts notwithstanding.

Enforcing treaties on open-sea commercial fishing is challenging, to say the least. Fishing gear is lost; whether accidentally or on purpose, it should fall on that industry to monitor, report, and fund the clean-up for it's portion of the mess.


Maybe instead of spending money on studies they use all that money the environmentalists give to politicians and use it to fund a clean up.

Save the rhetoric. The studies are necessary, not only to identify the scope of the problem, but also to fend off the critics who would say that without the studies, any claims about this problem would be baseless and anecdotal (in their cynical, disingenuous minds).


On the bright side. It is a giant kelp paddy. I bet there is more life around that thing than any other open ocean area. If you clean it up you are just destroying the ecosystem that developed around the pile of trash like they do when they blow up old oil rigs teaming with life. Killing all the fish. Hundreds of thousands of them To make it safe for fish?

It's not a kelp paddy. It's a big floating pile of trash. Composed mainly of materials used to kill fish. It is not an ecosystem; it is environmental pollution within an ecosystem. If you have any evidence to back up your bet of the ecological benefits of this pollution, by all means present it.

[DarkShadow]

If you have any evidence to back up your bet of the ecological benefits of this pollution, by all means present it.

I dunno.

I for one appreciate anecdotal evidence and research that begins with, "I read on the Internet that...."

[Lady Quagga]

I dunno.

I for one appreciate anecdotal evidence and research that begins with, "I read on the Internet that...."

http://image.ibb.co/fFWMzx/27mxte.jpg

....well that's what I heard!

[DarkShadow]

http://image.ibb.co/fFWMzx/27mxte.jpg

....well that's what I heard!

So you don't think we'll get a study that shows a garbage patch in the ocean is as environmentally sound as a kelp paddy?

[Natural Lefty]

Maybe it's the latest development in aquaculture.

[Lady Quagga]

So you don't think we'll get a study that shows a garbage patch in the ocean is as environmentally sound as a kelp paddy?

Only if TheBlaze or Breitbart fund it......

[Lady Quagga]

Maybe it's the latest development in aquaculture.


https://youtu.be/6vGE73tTSVU

[Fourtogo]

Fact turtles see plastic bags , see food >>that thing looks like a jelly fish . Whales when cut open loaded with styrene pallets . Walk any beach >> trash plastic anything that will float << will end up on a beach . Or float subsurface and move along the bottom with currants . Birds all eat dam near anything they can pick up . Who’s blame does it really matter? , the world eats this fish shell fish , we eat fish that don’t stay in one place . NYC used to dump off shore Los Angeles used pump through a outfall pipe . Right out In ocean Monsanto Douglas and many refineries pumped millions of gallons of Sh—t untreated in the water . Do I know what Asia does I could only guess what’s answer . This isn’t only ocean this happening in .

[Brent]

Fact turtles see plastic bags , see food >>that thing looks like a jelly fish . Whales when cut open loaded with styrene pallets . Walk any beach >> trash plastic anything that will float << will end up on a beach . Or float subsurface and move along the bottom with currants . Birds all eat dam near anything they can pick up . Who’s blame does it really matter? , the world eats this fish shell fish , we eat fish that don’t stay in one place . NYC used to dump off shore Los Angeles used pump through a outfall pipe . Right out In ocean Monsanto Douglas and many refineries pumped millions of gallons of Sh—t untreated in the water . Do I know what Asia does I could only guess what’s answer . This isn’t only ocean this happening in .

You're correct.
That's why we need to tear down the EPA and get out of the Paris Climate deal. (sarcasm intended)
Also we need more military stuff so lets shut down research too.
I'm wondering what the military will be protecting in another 50 years when we have no food or clean water to drink?

[DarkShadow]

I'm wondering what the military will be protecting in another 50 years when we have no food or clean water to drink?

They'll be protecting the last bastion of food and clean water for the 1%.

[tpfishnfool]

False alarm, turns out the giant swirling pile of trash in the Pacific Ocean is California

Hillary was spotted in the pile. Top of the pile.

[Natural Lefty]

They'll be protecting the last bastion of food and clean water for the 1%.

Yes, but they will be private mercenaries, no longer military troops.

[DarkShadow]

What's up with random individuals coming in to take pot shots, but never engage in any type of real discussion?

[Natural Lefty]

By the way, California bashers, take heed.

State with the highest suicide rate: Alaska (California has the sixth lowest suicide rate.)

State with the highest homicide rate: Louisiana (California has the 24th lowest homicide rate.)

State with the highest divorce rate: Nevada (California has the 8th lowest divorce rate.)

State with the highest poverty rate: Mississippi (California has the 16th highest poverty rate.)

State with the highest drug overdose rate: West Virginia (California has the third lowest drug overdose rate.)

State with the highest teen pregnancy rate: New Mexico (California has the 21st highest teen pregnancy rate.)

State with the lowest life expectancy: Mississippi (California is tied for third highest life expectancy.)

California is nowhere near the bottom on any of these measures. In fact, it's closer to the top on most.

[DarkShadow]

By the way, California bashers, take heed.

State with the highest suicide rate: Alaska (California has the sixth lowest suicide rate.)

State with the highest homicide rate: Louisiana (California has the 24th lowest homicide rate.)

State with the highest divorce rate: Nevada (California has the 8th lowest divorce rate.)

State with the highest poverty rate: Mississippi (California has the 16th highest poverty rate.)

State with the highest drug overdose rate: West Virginia (California has the third lowest drug overdose rate.)

State with the highest teen pregnancy rate: New Mexico (California has the 21st highest teen pregnancy rate.)

State with the lowest life expectancy: Mississippi (California is tied for third highest life expectancy.)

California is nowhere near the bottom on any of these measures. In fact, it's closer to the top on most.

Mississippi here I come.

"But the fishing's great."

[Lady Quagga]

Mississippi here I come.

"But the fishing's great."

The Carolinas, dogg.

[DarkShadow]

The Carolinas, dogg.

"The fishing tho!"

Where the Naloxone flows as freely as the Coors Light.

[Natural Lefty]

My wife and I went to a park in Mississippi last summer by a backwater of the Mississippi River, and it was literally boiling with fish, but the water was so murky that we couldn't see them at all. I really wanted to drop a line in there but we didn't have fishing permits for Mississippi. I think the fish around there must accidentally bump into each other a lot. LOL

As for the state of the state itself, the statistics speak for themselves.

[tpfishnfool]

You all flew off point in short order. Perfection.

[etucker1959]

You all flew off point in short order. Perfection.

Consider the source on that statement!!!:LOL::LOL::LOL: Why don't you put them all back on point, with your wisdom on the subject???:Soap Box:

[DarkShadow]

Consider the source on that statement!!!:LOL::LOL::LOL: Why don't you put them all back on point, with your wisdom on the subject???:Soap Box:

You've ever heard of term of not feeding the troll?

[tpfishnfool]

Just go fishing fools.

[etucker1959]

You've ever heard of term of not feeding the troll?

But it wasn't after midnight!!! lol

[DarkShadow]

Just go fishing fools.

Doing plenty of fishing.

Apparently it takes a few hours to type a sentence on here or something, that people think it affects or fishing time?

[Brent]

Doing plenty of fishing.

Apparently it takes a few hours to type a sentence on here or something, that people think it affects or fishing time?

We did have a person that would have full page rants, but he was vanquished thank god. I know you remember. Didn't you buy some Lumber Liquidators stock on his advice..ROFL

[Lady Quagga]

Just go fishing fools.


Doing plenty of fishing.

Apparently it takes a few hours to type a sentence on here or something, that people think it affects or fishing time?

Well, considering tpfishnfool's posts are transcribed from crayon, a few hours for him isn't too far off......

http://image.ibb.co/c3tZEx/crayonfist.png

[DarkShadow]

Well, considering tpfishnfool's posts are transcribed from crayon, a few hours for him isn't too far off......

http://image.ibb.co/c3tZEx/crayonfist.png

And you scared another off.

Good job.