A few days ago i learned of the existence of two trash vortexes in the pacific ocean. Basically what happens is that the currents will carry a lot of the thrash that is in the pacific ocean to two different areas. There the currents circle arround a calm spot and all the thrash traveling on the currents end up in that zone. There's one north of Hawaii (an area called the North Pacific subtropical gyre), and another west of Japan.



Traditionally ships stay clear of these zones, because they have very calm currents and weather, there are also very few large fish. Plus debris has been collection there for, well, as long as there has been debris in the ocean. In past ages it wasn't much of a problem, because most debris were biodegradable. But now, it's mainly plastic, and plastic lasts for ever.

It was Charles Moore (an american captain), who ran into this heap of trash in '97, after taking an alternate route home with catemaran. He slowly noticed that there was much trash in the water, until finally it was everywhere. The sailed through trash for several days.

It's estimated that the floating garbage covers an area as vast as twice the size of texas. Now the sea over there still looks vaguely normal. There are large chunks of debris, but you wouldn't call it dramatic if you saw it on footage or in photos. That is because plastic breaks down into tiny bits and pieces when exposed for a long time to sunlight. Samples of the water indicate that the amount of plastic in the water outweighs plankton (the most basic form of aquatic life) by a factor of 6. This is what you get when a plankton filter trawls the ocean surface for a mile:



Now this is an extreme example of the zone. But research indicate that these shards of plastic can be found anywhere in the ocean. The most disturbing result is that when fish eat plastic, it ends up in our food chain. Everybody knows plastic is loaded with harmful chemicals. And now we're eating it.

Charles Moore has since started a research group and is publishing his findings on the problem on its website. Through his action he's also got many other groups and scientists to start researching it.

This article describes the situation well


Since i found it so fucking disturbing, i'm posting it here.

Jesusmotherfuckingchrist.

Garbage island...Didn't know there were two.

As always, nature (with a wee bit help from humanity) provides... when that gets solid enough to walk on, well, a new continent to colonize, helping ease overpopulation. Profit!

...

I wonder if someday, owner will arrive and hit us all with some heavy fines. Such stupid tenants...

Coming soon: Survivor: Gomi Island

Quite horrible, but I have to point out that actually most plastic is chemically inert (which is why it lasts for ever), and even more so the cheap ones that make the bulk of the garbage. It can still choke you, or kill fishes that eat too much plastic that they cannot get rid of.

I can easily see some entrepeneur, a hundred year from now, trawling the garbage zones to recover valuable hydrocarbons...

"You're a slutty little bitch, aren't you, Pacific, you let them stick it all in you! I know cess pools cleaner than you you pathetic ass!"

Wait... oh... that kind of trashing.

Very informative. Thank you, Wanderer. And horrible news.

quote:

Originally posted by Boogerhead:
Garbage island...Didn't know there were two.

I'll thank you not to refer to Australia in that manner.

quote:

Two telephones are visible: they are that singularly bilious shade of green the Japanese reserve for pay phones.

I just pored over the pictures in the article, looking for these telephones in the trash. Now I realise it's your sig. D'oh!

quote:

Originally posted by lithos:

quote:

Originally posted by Boogerhead:
Garbage island...Didn't know there were two.

I'll thank you not to refer to Australia in that manner.

It's okay. I gave him permission.

You're bucking for an ASIO raid, aincha, Witness.

(lithos made him do it)

Is it really this bad, Twilite? 'Plastic sand'... damn.

We're now reaping the consequences of years of damaging the oceans.

Environment Agency bods have collected 2000+ off my local break. I managed to get a dozen which have so far coined zero bids on Ebay! Guess the NHS is flushed.

Is that used or unused. And what does it/did it contain?