The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP): A Study
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is a significant area of marine debris accumulation in the North Pacific Ocean. It is not a solid, visible island of trash, but rather a large, dispersed area with varying concentrations of plastic and other debris. The GPGP is located roughly between 135°W to 155°W and 35°N to 42°N, spanning from the West Coast of North America to Japan. Formation and Location The GPGP is formed by the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a large system of rotating ocean currents. This gyre draws in waste from across the North Pacific, including coastal waters off North America and Asia. The gyre's rotational pattern causes debris to gradually move toward the center, where it becomes trapped. The GPGP is composed of two main areas: the Western Garbage Patch near Japan and the Eastern Garbage Patch between Hawaii and California. These areas are linked by the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone. The convergence zone acts as a "highway" for deb...