Introduction
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a sight that no one wants to see. It’s a vast area in the Pacific Ocean where plastic, clothing, and other debris accumulates in high concentrations. Over the years, this garbage patch has grown to be quite large, with an area larger than Texas.
It’s estimated that it contains more plastic than all of the oceans combined! What does this mean for us? Not only is this area a visual disaster, but it also represents a major environmental hazard. Each year, cargo ships sink here due to garbage overloads.
If we want to solve the problem of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, we need to start by reducing our reliance on cargo ships. Read on to learn more about ways you can help make a difference.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: How Big is It?
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: How Big is It?
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also known as the Pacific Trash Vortex, is a large accumulation of trash in the North Pacific Ocean. The patch is roughly twice the size of Texas and has accumulated over a century’s worth of waste from shipping and fishing.
The patch contains an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, which amounts to around 22% of all the plastic in the ocean. It’s also home to a large number of marine animals that get tangled in discarded nets or consume pieces of plastic mistaken for food.
Since it was discovered in 1997, researchers have been struggling to determine just how big the Great Pacific GarbagePatch actually is. A study published in 2016 estimated that it’s about twice as large as previously thought, at 9 million square kilometers (3 million square miles). That means it would take 625 cargo ships carrying 31 million tons each year to leave enough trash behind to form the patch.
How Many Cargo Ships Sink Every Year?
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a massive accumulation of garbage in the North Pacific Ocean. The size of the patch has been increasing over time, and it’s estimated to be around twice the size of Texas. Some researchers say that the patch could be larger than the continental United States.
There are a few factors that contribute to the growth of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. One reason is that plastic waste makes up around 80 percent of all garbage in the ocean, and it doesn’t biodegrade so easily. Another issue is that ships often throw away their trash overboard, which ends up in the ocean.
Each year, about 100 cargo ships sink in the North Pacific Ocean, contributing to the growth of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. If we continue on this path, it’s estimated that by 2025 there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish.
What Causes the Garbage Patch?
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a growing problem that requires urgent attention. The patch is located in the North Pacific Ocean and spans more than 3 million square miles. It’s made up of marine debris, including plastic bottles, bags, and other synthetic materials.
According to the Ocean Cleanup Foundation, about 132 cargo ships sink every year in the patch. That means an estimated 9 million tons of plastic waste ends up in this hotspot. And it’s only getting bigger: Between 2010 and 2015, the size of the patch grew by about 80%, according to a report from the National Geographic Society.
Some experts blame climate change for making this mess worse. When sea temperatures rise, marine debris like Plastic melts into smaller pieces that can be ingested by marine life or windblown onto land. This creates even more pollution because it takes longer for garbage to break down in water.
The good news is there are ways to clean up the garbagepatch—and we need to start now if we want to avoid reaching catastrophic levels of pollution in our oceans.
Solutions to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a massive accumulation of trash in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It’s grown so big that it’s now twice the size of Texas.
Solutions to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch:
- Hats, sunglasses and other small pieces of plastic can be recycled into new items.
- Large pieces of plastic can be recycled into new products or recycled into new pieces of plastic.
- Burning garbage creates toxic fumes that can harm people and animals. Instead, find ways to recycle or reuse materials instead of burning them.
- Urge businesses and consumers to reduce their use of disposable packaging and single-use plastics in order to help reduce the amount of waste produced.
