Cleaning the Great Pacific Garbage Patch: Challenges and Progress
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is a vast accumulation of marine debris located in the North Pacific Ocean. It is estimated to cover an area twice the size of Texas and contains an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic. The GPGP is a major environmental concern, as it poses a threat to marine life and ecosystems.
Challenges of Cleaning the GPGP
Cleaning up the GPGP is a complex and challenging task. The patch is located in a remote area of the ocean, and the debris is spread over a wide area. Additionally, much of the debris is in the form of microplastics, which are small pieces of plastic that are difficult to collect.
The Ocean Cleanup’s Efforts
The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organization that is developing technologies to clean up the GPGP. The organization’s goal is to remove 90% of the plastic from the patch by 2040.
Key Facts
- The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean, consisting mostly of tiny bits of plastic called microplastics.
- The patch is actually comprised of the Western Garbage Patch, located near Japan, and the Eastern Garbage Patch, located between the U.S. states of Hawai’i and California.
- The entire Great Pacific Garbage Patch is bounded by the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, which is a large system of swirling ocean currents.
- Cleaning up marine debris is challenging due to the vast size of the oceans and the fact that many microplastics are the same size as small sea animals, making it difficult to design nets that would only catch garbage.
- The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program estimated that it would take 67 ships one year to clean up less than one percent of the North Pacific Ocean.
- The Ocean Cleanup, an organization dedicated to cleaning up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, has been working on developing a massive cleanup device to collect plastic from the patch.
- The timeline of the Ocean Cleanup’s effort includes the proposal of the cleanup device by Boyan Slat, the Dutch innovator, and the successful navigation of the Plastiki, a catamaran made of plastic bottles, from San Francisco to Sydney.
The Ocean Cleanup’s cleanup device is a large, floating boom that collects plastic debris from the ocean. The boom is designed to be towed by a ship, and it uses a combination of nets and filters to collect plastic.
Progress and Timeline
The Ocean Cleanup has made significant progress in developing its cleanup device. In 2018, the organization launched its first prototype, System 001. The prototype was tested in the Pacific Ocean for several months, and it was able to collect a significant amount of plastic.
In 2019, the Ocean Cleanup launched a second prototype, System 002. System 002 is a larger and more advanced version of System 001. It is currently being tested in the Pacific Ocean, and it is expected to be able to collect even more plastic than its predecessor.
The Ocean Cleanup is planning to launch a fleet of cleanup devices in the Pacific Ocean by 2025. The organization believes that its devices will be able to remove a significant amount of plastic from the GPGP, and it is hopeful that it will be able to achieve its goal of cleaning up 90% of the plastic from the patch by 2040.
Conclusion
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a major environmental challenge, but the Ocean Cleanup is making progress in developing technologies to clean it up. The organization’s goal is to remove 90% of the plastic from the patch by 2040, and it is hopeful that its devices will be able to achieve this goal.
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FAQs
How big is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. It is estimated to cover an area twice the size of Texas.
What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch made of?
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is made up of a variety of marine debris, including plastic bottles, bags, and straws. It also contains a large amount of microplastics, which are small pieces of plastic that are less than 5 millimeters in size.
How long will it take to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization, is developing technologies to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The organization’s goal is to remove 90% of the plastic from the patch by 2040.
What are the challenges of cleaning up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
Cleaning up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a complex and challenging task. The patch is located in a remote area of the ocean, and the debris is spread over a wide area. Additionally, much of the debris is in the form of microplastics, which are difficult to collect.
What is the Ocean Cleanup doing to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
The Ocean Cleanup is developing a fleet of cleanup devices to remove plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The organization’s first prototype, System 001, was launched in 2018. System 002, a larger and more advanced version of System 001, was launched in 2019.
How can I help clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
There are a number of ways to help clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. You can reduce your use of plastic, recycle plastic products, and support organizations that are working to clean up the patch.
What is the impact of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch on marine life?
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch has a negative impact on marine life. Plastic debris can entangle animals, block their digestive tracts, and leach toxic chemicals into the water.