Greta Jimenez
Gyres are large systems of circulating ocean currents that draw in the pollution we release in coastal areas, known as marine debris. The most famous example of a gyre's tendency to take out our trash is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located in the North Pacific Gyre. The patch is an area of concentrated (and mostly plastic) marine debris. Once plastics enter the gyre, they are unlikely to leave the area until they degrade into smaller microplastics under the effects of the sun, waves, and marine life. As more plastics are discarded into the environment, the microplastic concentration in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch will only increase.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Gyres | North Atlantic Gyre, South Atlantic Gyre, North Pacific Gyre, South Pacific Gyre, and Indian Ocean Gyre |
| Impact of gyres on plastic pollution | Gyres circulate ocean waters and draw in plastic pollution from coastal areas, forming garbage patches |
| Examples of garbage patches | The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located in the North Pacific Gyre, is the most well-known example |
| Other garbage patches | Two additional patches have been discovered in the South Pacific Ocean and the North Atlantic |
| Plastic pollution sources | Land-based sources (mismanaged waste, wastewater, industry) and maritime activities (fishing vessels, cruise ships) |
| Plastic entry pathways | Rivers, beaches, illegal dumping at sea, and maritime activities |
| Plastic degradation | Plastics break into smaller microplastics due to UV degradation, hydrolysis, wind, and waves |
| Impact on marine life | Entanglement, ingestion, and exposure to persistent organic pollutants |
| Plastic concentration | The Great Pacific Garbage Patch covers an estimated 1.6 million square kilometers |
| Plastic distribution | Buoyant plastic is distributed within the top few meters of the ocean, with larger pieces resurfacing faster |
| Plastic persistence | Plastic has been measured in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch since the 1970s, indicating its longevity |
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What You'll Learn
- The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest accumulation of plastic in the open ocean
- The North Pacific Gyre is a famous example of a gyre's tendency to take out trash
- Maritime activities, including fishing vessels and cruise ships, contribute to plastic pollution in gyres
- Plastic pollution in gyres is transported via wind and surface currents
- Plastic debris in gyres impacts marine life, including mammals, reptiles, and birds (through entanglement or ingestion)
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest accumulation of plastic in the open ocean
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), also known as the Pacific trash vortex, is the largest accumulation of plastic in the open ocean. It is located in the central North Pacific Ocean, halfway between Hawaii and California, and spans waters from the West Coast of North America to Japan. The GPGP is made up of the Western Garbage Patch, near Japan, and the Eastern Garbage Patch, located between Hawaii and California.
The GPGP was discovered in 1996 by Captain Charles Moore, who published the first account of large accumulations of plastic debris in the middle of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. The gyre contains approximately six pounds of plastic for every pound of plankton, and there is 180 times more plastic than marine life in the region. The plastic in the GPGP is not a solid mass but is scattered, with buoyant plastic distributed within the top few meters of the ocean. The patch is a widely dispersed area consisting primarily of "fingernail-sized or smaller," often microscopic, particles called microplastics. These microplastics are the result of larger plastics breaking down into smaller pieces under the effects of sun, waves, and marine life.
The GPGP covers an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers, an area twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France. The size of the patch was determined through an elaborate sampling method that utilized 30 boats, 652 surface nets, and two flights to gather aerial imagery. The amount of debris in the GPGP continues to accumulate due to the constant inflow of plastic and the fact that much of the debris is not biodegradable.
The primary sources of plastic in the GPGP are fishing activities and maritime waste. A 2018 study found that synthetic fishing nets made up nearly half of the mass of the patch, while a 2022 study reported that 75% to 86% of the plastic pollution originated from fishing and agriculture. Maritime waste enters the ocean through various pathways, including littering, natural disasters, accidental spills, and sewage overflows. Rivers are a dominant pathway for plastics to reach the ocean, with an estimated 1.15 to 2.41 million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean annually. Once these plastics enter the gyre, they are trapped and continue to accumulate, leading to the formation of the GPGP.
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The North Pacific Gyre is a famous example of a gyre's tendency to take out trash
Gyres are large systems of circulating ocean currents, similar to slow-moving whirlpools. They drive the oceanic conveyor belt that helps circulate ocean waters globally. While they circulate ocean waters, they also draw in the pollution released in coastal areas, known as marine debris.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is far out in the middle of the ocean, between Hawaii and California, where people hardly ever go. Its low density prevents detection by satellite imagery, or even by casual boaters or divers in the area. This is because the patch is a widely dispersed area consisting primarily of suspended "fingernail-sized or smaller"—often microscopic—particles in the upper water column. It is not a large and continuous patch of easily visible marine debris, and it is possible to sail through some areas and see very little to no debris. However, the patch is rapidly accumulating, with a concentration of plastic particles at 334,721 pieces per square kilometre, with a mean mass of 5.1 kilograms per square kilometre.
The plastic in the patch originates from the Pacific Rim, including countries in Asia, North America, and South America. Modelling has indicated that over 75% of plastics in the patch are attributable to offshore fishing activities. The patch is believed to have increased "10-fold each decade" since 1945. As more plastics are discarded into the environment, microplastic concentration in the patch will continue to increase.
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Maritime activities, including fishing vessels and cruise ships, contribute to plastic pollution in gyres
While much of the plastic pollution in the ocean comes from land, maritime activities, including fishing vessels and cruise ships, also contribute significantly to plastic pollution in gyres. The subtropical oceanic gyre in the North Pacific Ocean, for instance, is currently covered in tens of thousands of tonnes of plastic debris, dispersed over millions of square kilometres. A large portion of this consists of fishing nets and ropes, with the rest composed of hard plastic objects and fragments. In 2019, an oceanographic mission in the area retrieved over 6,000 pieces of hard plastic debris, which were analysed and found to have originated from industrialised fishing nations. This indicates that fishing activities are largely responsible for the accumulation of floating plastics in the North Pacific subtropical gyre.
Fishing vessels contribute to plastic pollution in gyres through the loss of cargo (e.g. plastic pellets) and the discharge of wastewater. Additionally, fishing nets are a major source of plastic pollution in the ocean. When nets are lost or abandoned at sea, they continue to entangle fish and other marine life, often referred to as "ghost fishing". Over time, the nets break down into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually becoming microplastics. These microplastics can be ingested by marine organisms, leading to adverse effects on feeding, growth, reproduction, and survival.
Cruise ships also contribute to plastic pollution in gyres through the discharge of untreated grey water and biosludge, resulting from sewage and wastewater treatment. Personal care and cosmetic products, cleaning and maintenance products, and synthetic microfibres released from textiles in laundry are significant sources of microplastics in cruise ship wastewater. Additionally, cruise ships produce large amounts of wastewater and often concentrate their activities in ecologically sensitive areas, increasing the impact of their plastic pollution on the environment.
The plastic pollution generated by maritime activities, such as fishing vessels and cruise ships, is transported by ocean currents and accumulates in gyres, forming massive patches of plastic debris. Once plastics enter these gyres, they are unlikely to leave until they degrade into microplastics under the influence of sunlight, waves, and marine life. As more plastics are discarded into the environment, the concentration of microplastics in these gyres will continue to increase, posing a significant threat to marine ecosystems and global food webs.
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Plastic pollution in gyres is transported via wind and surface currents
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located in the North Pacific Gyre, is the most well-known example of a gyre's tendency to accumulate plastic pollution. It is the largest accumulation of plastic in the open ocean, with an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometres. The existence of this garbage patch was first reported in 1996 by Captain Charles Moore, who discovered large accumulations of plastic debris in the middle of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre.
The plastic pollution in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is not a solid mass but is scattered throughout the gyre. This buoyant plastic is distributed within the top few metres of the ocean, with larger pieces resurfacing more rapidly than smaller ones. The concentration of microplastics in the patch will continue to increase as more plastic is discarded into the environment.
Plastic pollution enters the ocean through rivers, beaches, maritime activities, and illegal dumping at sea. Once in the ocean, plastics are transported by wind and surface currents into subtropical gyres, where they form accumulation zones of microplastic particles. These accumulation zones are driven by local winds and surface currents, which are detectable through satellite-tracked drifting buoys.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is significant, with a wide range of animals, including marine mammals, reptiles, and birds, affected through entanglement or ingestion. The persistent organic pollutants that adhere to plastic further compound the issue. As such, it is crucial to address the problem at its source by reducing waste, reusing and recycling materials, and properly managing household and industrial waste.
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Plastic debris in gyres impacts marine life, including mammals, reptiles, and birds (through entanglement or ingestion)
Plastic debris in gyres has a detrimental impact on marine life, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. The plastic waste in these gyres can lead to entanglement or ingestion by marine creatures, causing harm and even death.
Gyres are large systems of circulating ocean currents that can span hundreds or thousands of kilometers in diameter. They are responsible for transporting and concentrating plastic debris, creating areas of the ocean known as "garbage patches." These patches are not stationary but are constantly moving and changing with the currents. The most well-known garbage patch is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located between Hawaii and California. It was discovered by Captain Charles Moore in 1996 and is estimated to weigh 80,000 tons.
Marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, and seals, are affected by plastic pollution in gyres in several ways. They may become entangled in abandoned fishing nets, known as "ghost nets," or ingest large pieces of plastic, mistaking them for food. The ingestion of smaller plastic fragments, known as microplastics, can also occur when they consume prey items that have accumulated plastics in their bodies. These microplastics can contain toxic chemicals, which then enter the bodies of the mammals, potentially leading to health issues.
Birds are also severely impacted by plastic pollution in gyres. Seabirds, in particular, often ingest plastic debris, mistaking it for food. The Laysan Albatross in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is a notable example, with nearly every dead albatross found on Midway Atoll containing plastic in its stomach. The ingestion of plastic can lead to blockages, internal injuries, and the transmission of toxic chemicals, posing a significant threat to bird populations.
While there is limited specific information on the impact of plastic debris in gyres on marine reptiles, it is reasonable to assume that they face similar risks of entanglement and ingestion. Sea turtles, for example, may become entangled in plastic debris or ingest plastic items floating in the ocean or washed up on beaches. The ingestion of plastics can lead to blockages and internal injuries, as well as potential exposure to toxic chemicals, affecting the health and survival of marine reptiles.
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Frequently asked questions
Gyres are large systems of circulating ocean currents, similar to slow-moving whirlpools. There are five gyres: the North Atlantic Gyre, the South Atlantic Gyre, the North Pacific Gyre, the South Pacific Gyre, and the Indian Ocean Gyre.
Gyres circulate plastic pollution, drawing in marine debris from coastal areas. Once plastics enter a gyre, they are unlikely to leave until they degrade into smaller microplastics.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located in the North Pacific Gyre, is the most well-known example of a gyre's tendency to collect trash. It is the largest accumulation of plastic in the open ocean, covering an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers.
Plastic pollution enters the ocean through a variety of sources, including mismanaged waste from households, wastewater, and maritime activities such as fishing vessels and cruise ships. Rivers are a dominant pathway for plastics to reach the ocean.
