No island of trash in the ocean

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In summary, a new garbage patch has been discovered in the Indian Ocean by a husband-wife team researching plastic pollution. The team has found that the world's oceans are covered in a thin plastic soup, contrary to previous reports of an island of trash. The team's 12 water samples taken between Perth, Australia and Port Louis, Mauritius have all contained plastic. The original media spin of an island of trash has given way to a more honest report of a shrinking garbage patch consisting of mostly small plastic particles.
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Instead, the patches are more like a plastic soup. An island of trash would have been easier to clean up.

New garbage patch discovered in Indian Ocean

Scientists previously mapped huge floating trash patches in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, but now a husband-wife team researching plastic garbage in the Indian Ocean suggest a new and dire view. "The world's oceans are covered with a thin plastic soup," says Anna Cummins, cofounder of 5 Gyres Institute.

Cummins and her husband, Marcus Eriksen, established the 5 Gyres Institute to research plastic pollution in the world's oceans. The team works in collaboration with Algalita Marine Research Foundation and Pangaea Explorations, two nonprofit scientific organizations devoted to marine preservation. They report that all of the 12 water samples collected in the 3,000 miles between Perth, Australia, and Port Louis, Mauritius (an island due East of Madagascar), contain plastic.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ygreen/newgarbagepatchdiscoveredinindianocean"
 
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It is not a "new" view, it is just a more honestly-reported view.

Originally, it was reported as an island because that's what got media attention. They used to describe it as a mound of floating trash the size of <some state>. In fact, anyone who looked into the facts at all knew that it was just as high concentration of flotsam over a large area. I recall reading one quote from a scientist on-site saying he could see dozens and dozens (or was it hundreds) of floating objects within eyesight of the boat. Water samples also turned up high concentrations of plastic micro particles.

But ... Island?

It would seem that the original reporting spin was lost its panache, so they must re-spin it (as if its news) to whip up more attention.
 
  • #3
And now, the media is reporting it as "http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20100819/sc_livescience/oceangarbagepatchstillamystery" ," while honestly reporting it as "shrinking."
 
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I'm glad I didn't fund a 3,000 mile sailing trip and only get 12 samples:uhh::confused:
 
  • #5
This is telling:

The term "garbage patch" does not necessarily mean a visible island of trash floating on the waves, researchers said.
...
Each half-hour net tow typically turned up just 20 plastic pieces equivalent to about 0.3 grams in all. By comparison, a U.S. nickel weighs 5 grams.

The vast majority of plastic pieces caught in the net turned out smaller than 10 millimeters,

A half hour of netting turns up particles smaller than 10mm totalling .3 grams.

Yep. Island indeed.
 

What is the "No island of trash in the ocean" theory?

The "No island of trash in the ocean" theory refers to the widespread misconception that there is a large, visible island of trash floating in the ocean. This idea is often perpetuated by images of plastic waste floating in the ocean, but in reality, there is no single concentrated area of trash in the ocean.

Why is the "No island of trash in the ocean" theory important?

This theory is important because it highlights the extent of plastic pollution in the ocean and the need for action to address it. The misconception of a visible island of trash can lead to a dismissive attitude towards the issue, when in fact, plastic pollution is a serious environmental problem that requires urgent attention.

Is there any truth to the "No island of trash in the ocean" theory?

While there is no single island of trash in the ocean, the reality is that there are large patches of plastic waste floating in different areas of the ocean. These patches, known as "garbage patches," are created by ocean currents and wind patterns that concentrate floating debris in certain areas.

What is the main source of plastic pollution in the ocean?

The main source of plastic pollution in the ocean is land-based sources, such as litter and inadequate waste management. This includes items like plastic bags, bottles, and packaging that make their way into waterways and eventually end up in the ocean. It is estimated that around 80% of marine debris comes from land-based sources.

What can be done to address plastic pollution in the ocean?

There are several actions that can be taken to address plastic pollution in the ocean. These include reducing our use of single-use plastics, properly disposing of waste, and implementing policies and regulations to prevent plastic from entering the ocean. Additionally, supporting organizations and initiatives that work towards cleaning up and preventing plastic pollution can also make a significant impact.

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