garbage patches
Floating debris zones
Garbage patches are areas in the ocean where currents concentrate floating debris, primarily plastics, into loose accumulations.
The most famous is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch between Hawaii and California.
Despite the name, these aren't solid islands of trash but rather diffuse zones where plastic density is significantly higher than surrounding waters: The garbage patch contains millions of microplastic particles.
Sub-5mm synthetic environmental particles
- flotsamDebris from wrecked vessels
- jetsamGoods deliberately discarded at sea
- marine debrisWaste in sea environments
- ghost netsAbandoned fishing equipment adrift
fishing gear · bottle caps · six-pack rings · styrofoam · plastic bags · synthetic fibers · pellets · rope
Circular or spiral motion
- currentsDirectional flows of movement
- accumulationCollected mass over time
- vortexRotating fluid column
- eddyCircular counter-current
circulation · wind patterns · Coriolis effect · convergence · concentration · aggregation · drift · entrapment
Ocean-dwelling organisms collectively
- entanglementState of being intertwined
- ingestionConsuming into the body
- bioaccumulationPollutant concentration in tissues
- food chainEcological feeding hierarchy
seabirds · sea turtles · fish · toxins · zooplankton · filter feeders · biomagnification
Restoration of order
- skimmingPassing lightly over
- boomLoud deep sound
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- source controlSoftware change tracking system
waste management · recycling · circular economy · beach cleanup · prevention · policy · awareness campaigns · research vessels
Ocean basin, northwestern
- South PacificOcean region near Oceania
- Indian OceanSea south of Asia
- sea surfaceWater-air interface
- high seasWaters beyond jurisdiction
microplastics
Sub-5mm synthetic environmental particles
- flotsamDebris from wrecked vessels
- jetsamGoods deliberately discarded at sea
- marine debrisWaste in sea environments
ghost nets · fishing gear · bottle caps · six-pack rings · styrofoam · plastic bags · synthetic fibers · pellets · rope · buoys
gyre
Circular or spiral motion
- currentsDirectional flows of movement
- accumulationCollected mass over time
- vortexRotating fluid column
eddy · circulation · wind patterns · Coriolis effect · convergence · concentration · aggregation · drift · entrapment · photodegradation
marine life
Ocean-dwelling organisms collectively
- entanglementState of being intertwined
- ingestionConsuming into the body
- bioaccumulationPollutant concentration in tissues
food chain · seabirds · sea turtles · fish · toxins · zooplankton · filter feeders · biomagnification
cleanup
Restoration of order
- skimmingPassing lightly over
- boomLoud deep sound
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
source control · waste management · recycling · circular economy · beach cleanup · prevention · policy · awareness campaigns · research vessels · monitoring
North Atlantic
Ocean basin, northwestern
- South PacificOcean region near Oceania
- Indian OceanSea south of Asia
- sea surfaceWater-air interface
- ocean pollutionoil spills, plastic pollution, marine debris, plastic waste, toxic waste
- Polluted Sitesdump sites, dumps, brownfields, chemical spills, oil spills
- waste problemsillegal dumping, littering, ocean plastic, pollution, contamination
- disposable culturesingle-use plastic, disposable razors, plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic straws
- polar pollutionoil spills, soot, fuel spills, fuel leaks, ice melt
garbage patchespristine waters
Naturally pure aquatic environments
marine sanctuaries · crystal-clear waters · biodiversity hotspots · untouched wilderness · natural habitat
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