The great pacific garbage patch Amirah Osama
Introduction:
The ocean contains 2.2 million (±1.3 million) species. (Mora. C, 2011) The survivial of these species is reliant on the health of the ocean ….. (talk about ocean pollution in general)……In the ocean gyres can be found. They are formed by winds, rotation of the earth and ocean currents (De Wolff, K., 2014). These gyres move in a circulatory movement, similar to a whirlpool and are able to suck in objects. The objects have been transported near the gyres through ocean currents (Harse, G.A., 2011). This means that large amounts of dumped rubbish from shores and ships can be transported here from moderate distances. This causes an abundance of non-biodegradable debris. (Harse, G.A., …show more content…
These garbage patches are located on either side of the Hawaiian Islands, and together are known as “the great pacific garbage patch” (Kathy Marks, Asia-pacific correspondent, and Daniel Howden, 2008). The two garbage patches are linked by the north pacific subtropical convergence zone. (National Geographic society, 2014) This is where the pacific and the Arctic Oceans meet, the zone acts like a pathway and allows debris from the patches to drift to one another. Professor David Karl states that more research needs to be conducted to establish exact size and nature of the great pacific garbage patch (Yun Zhang et al. 2010). The great pacific garbage patch is often to referred to as “the world’s largest rubbish dump” (Kathy Marks, Asia-pacific correspondent, and Daniel Howden, 2008). It contains many large plastic objects. These break down into smaller pieces over time. This is from exposure to UVB radiation, seawater and oxygen. Plastic in the ocean tends to break down slower than plastic on land. This is due to limited sunlight exposure and lower temperature in the ocean (Cooper, D.A. and Corcoran, P.L., 2010). This plastic from the great pacific garbage
Introduction:
The ocean contains 2.2 million (±1.3 million) species. (Mora. C, 2011) The survivial of these species is reliant on the health of the ocean ….. (talk about ocean pollution in general)……In the ocean gyres can be found. They are formed by winds, rotation of the earth and ocean currents (De Wolff, K., 2014). These gyres move in a circulatory movement, similar to a whirlpool and are able to suck in objects. The objects have been transported near the gyres through ocean currents (Harse, G.A., 2011). This means that large amounts of dumped rubbish from shores and ships can be transported here from moderate distances. This causes an abundance of non-biodegradable debris. (Harse, G.A., …show more content…
These garbage patches are located on either side of the Hawaiian Islands, and together are known as “the great pacific garbage patch” (Kathy Marks, Asia-pacific correspondent, and Daniel Howden, 2008). The two garbage patches are linked by the north pacific subtropical convergence zone. (National Geographic society, 2014) This is where the pacific and the Arctic Oceans meet, the zone acts like a pathway and allows debris from the patches to drift to one another. Professor David Karl states that more research needs to be conducted to establish exact size and nature of the great pacific garbage patch (Yun Zhang et al. 2010). The great pacific garbage patch is often to referred to as “the world’s largest rubbish dump” (Kathy Marks, Asia-pacific correspondent, and Daniel Howden, 2008). It contains many large plastic objects. These break down into smaller pieces over time. This is from exposure to UVB radiation, seawater and oxygen. Plastic in the ocean tends to break down slower than plastic on land. This is due to limited sunlight exposure and lower temperature in the ocean (Cooper, D.A. and Corcoran, P.L., 2010). This plastic from the great pacific garbage