All About the Pacific Trash Vortex
The Pacific Trash Vortex is a patch of garbage that floats around in the ocean. An estimated 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic are present in the vortex. In fact, the Pacific Trash Vortex is now about 2 times the size of Texas. You may think that this may not impact your daily life, however, the Pacific Trash Vortex plays a huge role in disrupting daily human life and behavior.
The patch of garbage was created when certain ocean currents brought together trash from all around the world. This trash ended up getting bigger and bigger until it got became twice the size of the State of Texas or even 3 times the size of the country of France. The Pacific Trash Vortex is the biggest of 5 other garbage patches in the world. You may believe that you play no part in contributing to the growing patch of garbage, but you may be wrong. The patch of garbage in the Pacific Trash Vortex could have been made with part of your fast food restaurant french fry box, or it could’ve been made with any other piece of trash that you littered. The pacific trash vortex could’ve been made with anything. The garbage patch however is made mainly of microplastics. Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that are 5 millimeters or under in size. The garbage is also made of large amounts of fishing equipment. ( Nets, Fishing lines, ropes, etc. ) Scientists estimate that up too, “1.15 to 2.41 million tonnes of plastic are entering the ocean each year from rivers.” Many of these plastics are buoyant which means that they will stay afloat in water. These plastics that stay afloat will be moved around in the ocean currents and will stay afloat on the waters until they start to degrade into microplastics. Currently, it’s been reported that there are more than 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic that can be found. A current called the North Pacific Tropical Gyre is a crucial factor in the accumulation of the Pacific Trash Vortex. A gyre is when there is an ocean current that circles around an area where there is a calm, center area.
It is estimated that the Garbage patch is currently over 80,000 tonnes. The Floating garbage patch is a threat to many animals’ homes and the environment. The garbage patch releases pollutants everywhere the current carries it. Hundreds to thousands of marine animals have already been killed because of the garbage patch. From large marine animals like whales, sea turtles, sharks, and dolphins to smaller animals like fish, marine plants, and seabirds. The garbage patch destroys everything in its path. The plastic that floats on the surface can even block the sunlight from reaching the algae and plankton in the oceans. This causes a large problem in the food chain. Additionally, a large percent of the Earth’s oxygen comes from algae and plankton, so if enough algae and plankton stop getting sunlight then there could be a shortage of oxygen on Earth. Also surprisingly the patch of buoyant plastic can also serve as a transportation device for certain species. The species can stay on top of the garbage patch then swim off to different land. This could result in a new way for invasive species to travel.
The pacific trash vortex causes a major threat to the marine environment and even to humans. If there isn’t any action to stop the growth of the pacific trash vortex soon, then there will be invasive species everywhere, there will be fewer fish, people who depend on fishing for a living will lose their jobs, there will eventually also be less oxygen for the planet, and there will be little to no more marine life left. We need to start to take action. Therefore, to help prevent the Pacific trash vortex or any other floating garbage patch to keep growing please try getting involved in one or more of these actions:
Ways to help:
- Always make sure to use reusable goods. (Water bottles, utensils, straws, etc.)
- Use materials/items that you know for sure are recyclable.
- Donate to some organizations that are involved in cleaning up the Pacific Trash Vortex or any other floating garbage patch.
Check out this awesome video from the Science Insider that puts into perspective the size of the Pacific Trash Vortex!
Sources:
- https://marinesanctuary.org/blog/what-is-the-great-pacific-garbage-patch/?gclid=CjwKCAjwmK6IBhBqEiwAocMc8n8xb29HmZyrDE6WV2FkPO2Sne8dv4BvPP9sbsi9O7zqgYpgk8AjXBoCnDcQAvD_BwE
- https://theoceancleanup.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch/?utm_source=google_cpc&utm_medium=ad_grant&utm_campaign=awareness&gclid=CjwKCAjwmK6IBhBqEiwAocMc8h1tzWIBGhqgm1drPVCzXZNGfLcWynOCmvifVuYIHcWSH5r-62t59RoClRsQAvD_BwE
- https://socialimpactmovement.org/what-is-the-great-pacific-garbage-patch/?gclid=CjwKCAjwmK6IBhBqEiwAocMc8sgqBrufvcN43hUDXAdcBTrU2KSOB9SWhBegp2z9p7ad8zoKK65cPRoC7gEQAvD_BwE
Kyle Lee (kylelee.earthminions@gmail.com) is a 6th-grade student at Thomas Viaduct Middle School. He loves to learn about ecosystems and he enjoys being with animals. He is passionate about animal conservation and climate change. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, hiking, and playing with his cats. (Elkridge, MD)
