Meghan Hodges
The North Atlantic Garbage Patch is a swirling collection of marine debris, mostly comprising microplastics, floating within the North Atlantic Gyre. The patch was first discovered in 1972 and is one of six main gyres, including the North and South Atlantic, East and North Pacific, and Indian Ocean gyres. These gyres, or large whirlpools, pull in and trap debris, especially solid waste from coastal areas, into large patches. The North Atlantic Garbage Patch is a growing problem, with an estimated density of more than 200,000 pieces of debris per square kilometre, posing risks to wildlife and humans through entanglement and plastic consumption. The patch's microplastics also absorb harmful pollutants, which can enter the food chain when consumed by marine life, revealing the extent of plastic pollution in our oceans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | North Atlantic Gyre, Atlantic Ocean |
| Size | Hundreds of kilometres across |
| Density | 200,000 pieces of debris per square kilometre |
| Composition | Microplastics, polyethylene, polypropylene, plastic bottles, fishing gear, nets |
| Impact | Risk to wildlife and humans through plastic consumption and entanglement |
| Solutions | Limit/eliminate disposable plastics, increase use of biodegradable resources, clean-up operations |
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What You'll Learn
- The North Atlantic Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris in the North Atlantic Gyre
- The patch is made up of microplastics, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, which are harmful to marine life
- The patch is difficult to study due to its remote location, but it poses risks to wildlife through entanglement and ingestion
- The size of the patch is estimated to be hundreds of kilometres across, with a density of more than 200,000 pieces of debris per square kilometre
- Efforts to raise awareness and clean up the patch include The Garbage Patch State at UNESCO and The Ocean Cleanup
The North Atlantic Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris in the North Atlantic Gyre
The North Atlantic Garbage Patch was first documented in 1972 and discovered in 1976, with estimates placing its size at hundreds of kilometers across and a density of more than 200,000 pieces of debris per square kilometer. The patch is dynamic, shifting by up to 1,600 kilometers north and south with the seasons and drifting even farther south during El Niño-Southern Oscillation events. The concentration of plastic in the patch has remained constant despite a fivefold increase in global plastic production, possibly due to plastics sinking beneath the surface or breaking down into smaller pieces that pass through research nets.
The garbage patch poses risks to wildlife and humans through plastic consumption and entanglement. The plastics within the patch leach out and absorb harmful pollutants, such as BPA and PCBs, which can then enter the food chain when consumed by marine life. The small size of microplastics makes them easier for marine animals to ingest, and they can be mistaken for food by fish, seabirds, and even larger marine mammals.
The North Atlantic Garbage Patch is challenging to study due to its remote location, and there have been limited awareness and cleanup efforts compared to other patches. The plastic accumulation in the patch is driven by human-created waste traveling from continental rivers into the ocean. The surface of the patch is composed of microplastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene, which are common in household items. Denser materials, such as polyethylene terephthalate used in beverage bottles, are believed to exist beneath the surface but are not captured by current sampling methods.
Addressing the North Atlantic Garbage Patch and similar pollution challenges requires a multifaceted approach. While prevention is key, with a focus on reducing single-use plastics and increasing the use of biodegradable resources, existing patches also demand attention. The scale and complexity of the problem mean that finding cost-effective technological solutions and assigning responsibility to specific nations for cleanup operations are significant challenges.
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The patch is made up of microplastics, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, which are harmful to marine life
The North Atlantic Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris, or litter, in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of two trash vortexes in the Atlantic Ocean, with the other being in the Indian Ocean. The North Atlantic Garbage Patch was first documented in 1972 and is estimated to be hundreds of kilometres across, with a density of more than 200,000 pieces of debris per square kilometre.
The patch is largely made up of microplastics, which are small plastic particles that come from the degradation of plastics. These microplastics include polyethylene and polypropylene, which are common components of plastics. They are found in plastic bags, food storage containers, and bottle caps, as well as in personal care products such as face washes, hand soaps, and other cosmetics. These products are typically in the form of microbeads or "micro-exfoliants", which are washed into the sewage system immediately after use. Wastewater treatment plants are unable to filter out all of these particles, allowing some to enter rivers and oceans.
The small size of microplastics makes them very difficult to remove from the ocean. They are often mistaken for food by marine animals, which can lead to health issues and even death. Microplastics have been detected in many marine species, including zooplankton, which ingest the beads and excrete faecal matter contaminated with microplastics. As plastics break down, they can also leach out harmful chemicals such as BPA, which have been linked to environmental and health problems. These chemicals can enter the food chain when consumed by marine life.
The North Atlantic Garbage Patch poses a significant risk to wildlife and humans through plastic consumption and entanglement. While there have been some awareness and clean-up efforts, most research and cleanup initiatives have focused on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
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The patch is difficult to study due to its remote location, but it poses risks to wildlife through entanglement and ingestion
The North Atlantic Garbage Patch, located in the North Atlantic Gyre, is a swirling collection of marine debris, primarily microplastics, that poses a significant threat to marine life and ecosystems. The patch was first documented in 1972 and spans hundreds of kilometers, with a density of over 200,000 pieces of debris per square kilometer. Due to its remote location, far from any coastline, studying the patch and understanding its full extent and impact is challenging.
The North Atlantic Garbage Patch is formed by the convergence of surface currents, creating a gyre that traps and centralizes human-created waste. The debris in the patch includes microplastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene, which are common in household items. These microplastics can break down into smaller fragments, some smaller than 5mm, making them constantly moving and nearly impossible to detect, track, or remove.
The remote location of the patch makes it difficult for scientists to directly study its impacts on marine life. However, it is known that the presence of this debris poses risks to wildlife through entanglement and ingestion. Marine animals, such as the Laysan Albatross, have been found with plastic in their stomachs, raising concerns about the health consequences of consuming these plastics.
Entanglement is another significant risk, with lost fishing nets, or "ghost nets," capable of trapping and injuring marine life. These nets can continue to "fish" even when no longer in use, entangling animals and causing harm. Additionally, plastic debris with loops, such as packing straps and plastic bag handles, can also ensnare wildlife.
While the North Atlantic Garbage Patch has received less attention than the more famous Great Pacific Garbage Patch, it is a pressing environmental concern. The patch's remote location and the challenges of detecting and removing microplastics make it a complex issue requiring international cooperation and innovative solutions.
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The size of the patch is estimated to be hundreds of kilometres across, with a density of more than 200,000 pieces of debris per square kilometre
The North Atlantic Garbage Patch is a swirling collection of marine debris, or human-created waste, that has accumulated in the North Atlantic Gyre, one of the five major oceanic gyres. The gyre is a circular system of ocean currents that stretches across the North Atlantic from near the equator to Iceland and from the east coast of North America to the west coasts of Europe and Africa. The North Atlantic Garbage Patch was first documented in 1972 and then rediscovered in 1976.
The North Atlantic Garbage Patch is primarily composed of microplastics, or plastic pieces smaller than 5mm in size, that have accumulated from converging surface currents. These microplastics are often fragments of common household items made from polyethylene and polypropylene, which are difficult to detect and remove. As plastics break down through photodegradation, they can leach out colourants and chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA), which have been linked to environmental and health problems.
The accumulation of microplastics in the North Atlantic Garbage Patch poses risks to marine life and humans through plastic consumption and entanglement. Marine animals, such as birds and fish, can ingest the microplastics, which can contain harmful chemicals. Additionally, plastic debris with loops, such as packing straps, six-pack rings, and plastic bag handles, can entangle wildlife. While there have been some awareness and cleanup efforts, such as The Garbage Patch State at UNESCO and The Ocean Cleanup, most research and cleanup initiatives have focused on the more famous Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
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Efforts to raise awareness and clean up the patch include The Garbage Patch State at UNESCO and The Ocean Cleanup
The North Atlantic Garbage Patch is a collection of human-created waste floating within the North Atlantic Gyre, first documented in 1972. The patch is estimated to be hundreds of kilometres across, with a density of more than 200,000 pieces of debris per square kilometre. The concentration of plastic in the patch has remained constant even as global plastic production has increased fivefold over a 22-year study period. This may be due to plastics sinking beneath the surface or breaking down into smaller pieces that pass through the nets used to collect and study the material.
The Garbage Patch State is a large-scale installation and performance artwork that debuted at UNESCO headquarters in Paris in 2013. The exhibition featured hundreds of transparent plastic bags filled with water and brightly coloured plastic caps, arranged in front of a 30-metre-long mirror. The installation aimed to give viewers the experience of standing in front of the Garbage Patch and seeing their reflection, making them protagonists in the piece. The Garbage Patch State has since been presented at various venues, including the Venice Biennale, ARCO in Madrid, the UN Secretariat in New York, and the Milan Design Week FuoriSalone. These installations often feature collaborations with academic institutions and sponsors to spread the message of environmental responsibility and the importance of safeguarding our planet's water resources.
The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organisation dedicated to removing plastic waste from the world's oceans. They have been researching, extracting, and monitoring plastic pollution in oceans and rivers for over ten years, with tens of millions of kilograms of trash removed to date. The Ocean Cleanup develops and scales technologies to intercept plastic in rivers and clean up accumulated ocean plastic. Their river systems consist of floating barriers and extraction systems anchored within rivers or at river mouths, targeting 1,000 rivers responsible for 80% of riverine pollution. In 2019, they unveiled "The Interceptor" for river cleanup, with deployments in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. As of June 2025, The Ocean Cleanup has removed over 30 million kilograms of trash from rivers and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. They aim to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040.
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Frequently asked questions
The Atlantic Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris in the Atlantic Ocean. The North Atlantic Garbage Patch, in particular, is found floating within the North Atlantic Gyre, which stretches across the North Atlantic from near the equator almost to Iceland, and from the east coast of North America to the west coasts of Europe and Africa.
The Atlantic Garbage Patch is made up of tiny microplastics that swirl around, mixing in the water column from waves and wind. These microplastics are manufactured to be small, such as microbeads in face wash, or plastic pellets. They are also formed when larger plastic items break down.
The Atlantic Garbage Patch poses health risks to marine animals, fish, and seabirds. Marine life can be entangled in or ingest the plastic debris. The plastic debris can also absorb and leach out harmful pollutants, which then enter the food chain when consumed by marine life.
There have been a few awareness and cleanup efforts for the North Atlantic Garbage Patch, such as The Garbage Patch State at UNESCO and The Ocean Cleanup. However, most of the research and cleanup efforts have been focused on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Scientists and explorers agree that limiting or eliminating the use of disposable plastics and increasing the use of biodegradable resources will be the best way to clean up these garbage patches.
