Idk im asking u guys to answer all my questions so I WONT ANSWER YOURS
87,000 tons, according to the NY Times: See article: "The 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch' Is Ballooning, 87,000 Tons of Plastic and Counting"
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch began forming in the mid-20th century, primarily as a result of increased plastic production and consumption. As plastic waste was released into the ocean, ocean currents concentrated this debris in certain areas, notably the North Pacific Gyre. The patch has continued to grow over the decades due to persistent plastic pollution and inadequate waste management practices.
No. The items in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch are not bonded together.
Plastic of every kind, some of it broken done into tiny particles that are being eaten by sea creatures and fish.
Some plastic is being recycled; some plastic is going into landfills; some is scattered around cities and countrysides around the world; and a great deal of plastic from all over the world has been collecting in the Pacific Ocean for many years creating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. There is also evidence that plastic is also collecting in the Atlantic Ocean. See the links below.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is estimated to consist of approximately 90% plastic by weight. This includes a wide range of plastic debris, from large items like fishing nets to microplastics. The prevalence of plastic highlights the significant impact of human activities on marine environments and the challenges of addressing ocean pollution.
1,000 years
Garbage patches, like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, are primarily caused by currents in the ocean concentrating marine debris in one area. Plastic waste, such as bottles and fishing gear, make up a large portion of the garbage patch. Irresponsible disposal of plastic items, along with inadequate waste management systems, contribute to the growth of these patches.
Currents can pick up and transport plastic debris from different parts of the ocean to specific areas. These patches, such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, form where ocean currents converge and trap the floating debris. Once trapped, the garbage patch continues to grow as more plastic is carried in by the currents.
Plastic. Plastic will usually float. There are vast areas in the "doldrums" of the oceans where millions of tons of plastic bottles, fishing nets and other plastic garbage are floating. These areas of ocean are called 'gyres' where the currents move around in one gigantic but slow-moving whirlpool. The largest is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and is found in the North Pacific Gyre. The plastic gradually breaks down into tiny pellets, which are swallowed by whales and other marine life as they resemble plankton. See the link below.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch indirectly affects everyone, since plastic and plastic particles are consumed by sea life and work their way up the food chain, eventually reaching humans. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch kills a huge amount of sea creatures. Sea Turtles think that plastic bags are jellyfish, which are their main food source, and eat them, which eventually kills them from plastic poisoning and starvation. Fish and sea mammals, including seals, are tangled up in plastic nets that will never decompose. There was a sea turtle which grew up with a plastic band around its shell, so that when it was found its shell was strangled into an hourglass shape. http://bigpictureblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/windowslivewritercharlesmooresexploration-bf39sea-turtle-deformed-12.jpg
The Pacific Trash Vortex is also known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This term refers to the large area in the North Pacific Ocean where plastic debris and other waste have accumulated due to ocean currents. It highlights the environmental issue of marine pollution and its impact on marine life.