The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
According to NOAA, “Garbage patches” is an inaccurate nickname given to open ocean areas where marine debris concentrates.
What’s in a name? - the name “garbage patch” is misleadingr. There is no island of trash forming in the middle of the ocean nor a blanket of trash that can be seen with satellite or aerial photographs. this is probably because much of the debris found here is small bits of floating plastic not easily seen from a boat.
Eastern Garbage Patch - concentrations of marine debris have been noted in an area midway between Hawai‘i and California known as the north Pacific subtropical high or the “eastern garbage patch.” the high is not a stationary area, but one that rotates, moves, and changes.
Western Garbage Patch - another area of marine debris concentration is located off the coast of Japan, and researchers believe it to be a small recirculation gyre (ocean feature made up of currents that spiral around a central point) likely created by winds and ocean eddies.
What’s in a name? - the name “garbage patch” is misleadingr. There is no island of trash forming in the middle of the ocean nor a blanket of trash that can be seen with satellite or aerial photographs. this is probably because much of the debris found here is small bits of floating plastic not easily seen from a boat.
Eastern Garbage Patch - concentrations of marine debris have been noted in an area midway between Hawai‘i and California known as the north Pacific subtropical high or the “eastern garbage patch.” the high is not a stationary area, but one that rotates, moves, and changes.
Western Garbage Patch - another area of marine debris concentration is located off the coast of Japan, and researchers believe it to be a small recirculation gyre (ocean feature made up of currents that spiral around a central point) likely created by winds and ocean eddies.