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What does the Pacific Ocean look like?

A strange question, you may ask.. and until very recently, I would have agreed with you.

As far as I was concerned, it looked much like this:

Serene, blue, uninterrupted - and by far the largest area of open water on the planet. 

So it came as something of a shock when quite recently, I discovered that there were vast areas that looked more like this: 

Quite shocking, isn't it?



The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, included in the photo above, is a vast collection of rubbish in the mid-Pacific, often quoted as being the size of Texas. 


The patch is the work of ocean currents, or 'sub-tropical gyres' in the Pacific. These clockwise currents carry vast amounts of plastic from the land towards the East and West of the Pacific ocean, resulting in a 'convergence zone' where the plastics are often deposited. 

The overall result is the most unnavigable and environmentally volatile pile of rubbish in the world.

Scary stuff. But why does any of this matter? True, it's a messy and albeit unpleasant eyesore on the landscape -  but it's out the way, and we can always sail around it. Besides, surely it's not that much different from landfill? 

Far from it. 

 Over the next few months, I'll be looking at the causes of this spectacular build up of rubbish, its effects on the ocean, the implications for biodiversity, and why distressing images like this are becoming more and more common:

I'll also be discussing some of the ways in which both the scientific community, policy-makers and environmental activists have sought to respond to the problem.

Likewise, by drawing your eye towards other associated blogs and websites of people interested in these issue, I'll also try and illustrate the wider debate taking place  -  and why this aspect of the environment matters for all of us. 

That's the plan.


Here goes...

Dominic

24 October, 2012