Pacific Garbage Patch

Shortly after graduating from college, I moved across the country to Catalina Island, twenty-six miles off the coast of Los Angeles, for a job as an instructor at the Catalina Island Marine Institute. During that time (early 90′s), I can remember learning a bit about the large-scale effects of ocean currents on marine debris. Several years later, researchers discovered what would become known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – a growing mass of floating trash collecting within the ocean as a result of converging currents. In the years since then, I’d admittedly lost track of this issue. Recently, while doing a bit of research for this informational graphic (above) to accompany an article in Environment California’s newsletter, I was shocked to learn how immense we’ve allowed this “patch” to grow – twice the size of Texas!
For more information, watch an enlightening video feature GMA did on the issue in 2008.


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