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 debris, moving it between the patches.

Composition of the Garbage Patch

• The GPGP is primarily composed of plastic, which accounts for over 99.9% of the floating debris.
• A significant portion of the plastic is made of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
• The debris ranges from large objects like fishing nets and containers to smaller plastic fragments and microplastics.
• Microplastics are tiny bits of plastic, often not visible to the naked eye. Although they make up the vast majority of the number of pieces of debris, they only account for a small percentage of the total mass.
• Macroplastics and megaplastics make up the majority of the mass of the patch. Macroplastics are 5–50 cm in size, and megaplastics are larger than 50 cm.

Size and Density

• The size of the GPGP is difficult to determine because the debris is widely dispersed and constantly moving.
• The GPGP covers an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers, which is twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France.
• The debris is not uniformly distributed, with the center having the highest density and the outer boundaries having lower concentrations.
• Most of the debris is suspended at or just below the surface, making it difficult to detect by satellite or aerial photography.

Quantities and Characteristics

• The GPGP contains an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic.
• The total mass of plastic is estimated to be around 79,000 tonnes.
• Over 75% of the mass in the GPGP is carried by debris larger than 5 cm.
• About 46% of the GPGP mass is made up of fishing nets.
• Microplastics account for 8% of the total mass but make up 94% of the estimated 1.8 trillion pieces.
• A 2022 study suggests that 75% to 86% of the plastic pollution comes from fishing and aquaculture industries.
• The types of plastic found include hard plastics, plastic sheets, films, lines, ropes, fishing nets, pre-production plastic pellets, and foamed materials.

Sources of Plastic

• A significant amount of plastic comes from land-based sources, such as improper waste disposal and littering.
• It is estimated that 80% of plastic in the ocean comes from land-based sources, with the remaining 20% from boats and other marine sources.
• The majority of land-based plastic comes from countries in Asia, including China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
• Discarded fishing gear, such as nets, lines, and buoys, are major contributors to the GPGP.
• The Kuroshio Extension (KE) current system is thought to contribute to the movement of plastic from Asia to the GPGP.

Environmental Impact

• The GPGP poses significant risks to marine life. Animals can become entangled in plastic debris, leading to drowning, injuries, and starvation.
• Many marine animals mistake plastic for food, leading to malnutrition, internal injuries, and exposure to toxins.
• Studies have shown that about 900 species have encountered marine debris, and 92% of these interactions are with plastic.
• The patch disrupts the balance of the original marine ecosystem and provides new biological conditions for microorganisms.
• The plastic can leach out chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA), which can cause environmental and health problems.
• Plastics can also absorb pollutants from the seawater, which can then enter the food chain when consumed by marine life.

Effects on Wildlife

• About 900 species have encountered marine debris, and 92% of these interactions are with plastic.
• 17% of the species affected by plastic are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• Many sea turtles caught in fisheries have a large proportion of their diet composed of ocean plastics.
• Laysan albatross chicks have also been found with a significant portion of plastics in their wet mass.
• Coastal species are now surviving and reproducing in the open ocean by attaching to the plastic, which may create "neopelagic communities," where coastal creatures compete with or consume open-ocean species.

Effects on Humans

• The chemicals in plastics can bioaccumulate in the food chain, potentially affecting human health.
• Efforts to clean up ocean plastic have significant financial burdens.
• Plastic pollution costs an estimated $13 billion per year.

Historical Context

• The presence of marine debris accumulation zones was first described in a 1988 paper by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
• Charles J. Moore, a yachtsman, is credited with bringing the GPGP to public attention after encountering it in 1997.
• Moore's observations led to further research and awareness of the problem, including the renaming of his Algalita research foundation to focus on marine plastic pollution.

Critical Analysis of the Scenario

• The GPGP is not a static island but a constantly changing area of varying debris concentration.
• The issue is complex, requiring understanding of ocean currents, plastic properties, and human behavior.
• The problem is not just a matter of accumulation but also of the degradation of plastics into microplastics, which are more difficult to remove.
• The lack of a unified global approach to reducing plastic production and waste management contributes to the problem.
• The persistence of plastics in the environment means that the problem will continue to grow without intervention.
• The issue is further complicated by the fact that much of the debris is submerged below the surface, making it more difficult to measure and remove.
• The GPGP serves as a symbol of broader ocean pollution issues, including other gyres with similar problems in other oceans.

Mitigation Efforts

• Several organizations and initiatives are working to mitigate the problem of the GPGP.

Ocean Cleanup Initiatives

• The Ocean Cleanup: This organization is using innovative technology to remove plastic from the GPGP, as well as from rivers before it reaches the ocean.
  • They have developed systems such as "System 002" and "System 03" to collect plastic from the ocean, and these systems have removed over 100,000 kilograms of plastic from the GPGP.
  • They are working on technology that can be scaled up to clean larger areas.
  • Their research suggests the majority of plastics in the GPGP are from offshore fishing activities.
  • The Ocean Cleanup estimates the GPGP contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic and weighs approximately 100,000 tonnes.
• Ocean Voyages Institute's Project Kaisei: This initiative focuses on removing plastic and ghostnets from the GPGP.
  • They have removed significant amounts of plastic through cleanup expeditions.
  • In 2020, they removed 170 short tons of plastic from the ocean.
  • They also use aerial surveys, such as drones, to assess the amount of trash.
• Other Removal Efforts:
  • Other groups such as the Coastal Conservancy, Earth Day, and World Cleanup Day are working to slow debris accumulation.
  • Many smaller-scale projects and clean-up efforts are ongoing.

Prevention and Education

• Reducing Plastic Use: Many individuals and organizations are advocating for the reduction or elimination of disposable plastics and increased use of biodegradable materials.
• Plastic Pollution Coalition and the Plastic Oceans Foundation: These groups use social media and direct action campaigns to support the transition from toxic, disposable plastics to biodegradable or reusable materials.
• Raising Awareness: Organizations such as the Algalita Marine Research Foundation and individuals like Charles Moore are working to educate the public about the problem of marine plastic pollution.

Research and Monitoring

• NOAA Marine Debris Program: This program studies and provides information about marine debris.
• The Ocean Cleanup conducts extensive research missions to collect data and understand the plastic in the GPGP.
  • Their research methods have included using 30 boats, 652 surface nets, and two flights to gather aerial imagery of the debris.
  • They also perform rising speed tests to understand how plastics behave in the water.
• Scientists are developing models to track the movement of plastic in the ocean and to identify source points.
• Researchers are working to quantify the sources, transport, and loss processes of ocean plastic.
• Studies are being conducted to determine the extent of plastic pollution in deep water and on the seafloor.

Challenges and Limitations

• Cleaning up the GPGP is a huge undertaking, requiring extensive resources and coordination.
• Many microplastics are the same size as small sea animals, making it difficult to collect the plastic without harming marine life.
• The size and variability of the ocean make it very difficult to collect the debris.
• A significant amount of plastic sinks to the ocean floor, making surface collection insufficient.
• There are still many unknowns regarding the degradation rates of different types of plastics in the marine environment.
• The lack of global agreement on the need to reduce and manage plastic is a major obstacle.

Conclusion The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a complex and multifaceted issue that reflects the broader problem of plastic pollution in the world's oceans. It highlights the need for concerted action to address the production, use, and disposal of plastics, as well as the importance of conservation and protection of marine ecosystems. While significant efforts are being made to clean up and mitigate the effects of the GPGP, there is a need for continuous monitoring and research to fully understand this area and develop more effective long-term solutions. Additionally, addressing the sources of plastic pollution is essential to preventing the further accumulation of plastic in the ocean. The GPGP serves as a stark reminder of the impact human activities can have on the environment and the urgent need for sustainable practices and responsible waste management to ensure the health of our oceans.